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European Integration and Industrial Relations: a Case of Convergence and Divergence?[Note 1. This article draws on recent and ongoing research. The ...]
Author(s) -
Marginson Paul,
Sisson Keith
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/1468-5965.00393
Subject(s) - resizing , accession , convergence (economics) , divergence (linguistics) , european union , industrial relations , economic system , reflection (computer programming) , political science , economic geography , economics , international trade , computer science , macroeconomics , law , linguistics , philosophy , programming language
European integration has led to considerable reflection about the trajectory of industrial relations in Europe. In the event, rather than the ‘two extremes of social union versus a completely deregulated free–for–all’, a multi–level system is emerging which is simultaneously prompting both convergent and divergent developments, reflecting the different intensity of pressures for change at sector and company levels. For the foreseeable future, complexity, uncertainty and instability look set to be the defining characteristics, with policy–makers and practitioners seeking to influence directions to their own advantage. Especially uncertain is the impact of enlargement, bearing in mind the accession states’ very different industrial relations systems and levels of economic development.