Worker participation and firm performance : evidence from Germany and Britain
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
British Journal of Industrial Relations
Publication Date
3-1-2000
Volume
38
Issue
1
First Page
7
Last Page
48
Abstract
The Freeman–Lazear works council/worker involvement model is assessed over two distinct industrial relations regimes. In non-union British establishments our measures of employee involvement are associated with improved economic performance, whereas for unionized plants negative results are detected. The suggestion is that local distributive bargaining can cause the wrong level of worker involvement to be chosen. Also consistent with the model is our finding that mandatory works councils do not impair, and may even improve, the performance of larger German establishments. Yet smaller plants with works councils under-perform, illustrating the problem of tailoring mandates to fit heterogeneous populations.
DOI
10.1111/1467-8543.00150
Print ISSN
00071080
E-ISSN
14678543
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics 2000
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Addison, J., Siebert, S., Wagner, J., & Wei, X. (2000). Worker participation and firm performance: Evidence from Germany and Britain. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 38(1), 7-48. doi: 10.1111/1467-8543.00150