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Sectors or countries? : typologies and levels of analysis in comparative industrial relations

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Bechter, Barbara, Brandl, Bernd and Meardi, Guglielmo. (2012) Sectors or countries? : typologies and levels of analysis in comparative industrial relations. European Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol.18 (No.3). pp. 185-202. ISSN 0959-6801

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0959680112452691

Abstract

This article presents a critique of the ‘methodological nationalism’ of traditional comparative industrial relations. It investigates nine different sectors across the 27 EU member states on the basis of seven empirical indicators. It is found that industrial relations vary across sectors as deeply as they do across countries, and that a cluster analysis of sectoral industrial relations produces very different results from one at national aggregate level. The concept of ‘national model’ of industrial relations, implying coherence and homogeneity within countries, and geographical typologies of industrial relations ‘types’, are therefore put in question. The article concludes by pointing at the theoretical and methodological implications of a focus on the sector as an important level of analysis.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Industrial Relations & Organisational Behaviour
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Comparative industrial relations
Journal or Publication Title:	European Journal of Industrial Relations
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0959-6801
Date:	20 July 2012
Volume:	Vol.18
Number:	No.3
Page Range:	pp. 185-202
Identification Number:	10.1177/0959680112452691
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/50044