Project Information
Public sector pay and social dialogue during the fiscal crisis: the effects of pay reforms and procurement strategies on wage and employment inequalities
Objectives
The general aim of this comparative project is to investigate the nature of public sector pay reforms during the current period of fiscal austerity and to understand in particular the challenges facing social partners, the associated strategies of procurement and the combined effects on patterns of wage and employment inequalities. It seeks to extend current knowledge by focusing on the specific roles of social partners and the challenges they face. The questions driving the project include: What are the varied public sector pay reforms underway in different countries and how are these shaped by the particular national model of public sector pay? What are the responses of social partners and have there been changes in social dialogue processes? Has government made use of public sector procurement changed and with what effects on employment conditions? And what are the combined effects of pay reforms and procurement strategies on wage and employment inequalities?
Approach
This 5-country comparative study (France, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, UK) - commissioned by the DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (Industrial Relations and Social Dialogue) at the European Commission and coordinated by Damian Grimshaw, Professor of Employment Studies at the University of Manchester and Director of the European Work and Employment Research Centre (EWERC) - collectboth quantitative and qualitative data. Fieldwork involves interviews with social partner representatives through selected case studies of public sector pay reforms, pay settlements and procurement strategies. Secondary data will illuminate the patterns of pay reforms, pay settlements and wage and employment inequalities for the period 2006-2011 where possible. There is very strong policy interest at member state and EU levels regarding the character and effects of ongoing public sector pay reforms and procurement strategies. It is hoped that this project will disseminate new knowledge of how to improve the integral processes of social dialogue in the European region.
Publications
Bosch, Gerhard / Mesaros, Leila / Schilling, Gabi / Weinkopf, Claudia , 2012: The public sector pay system and public procurement in Germany. National report. European Commission project: "Public sector pay and social dialogue during the fiscal crisis" VS/2011/0141. Duisburg: Inst. Arbeit und Qualifikation | Lesen
Bosch, Gerhard / Mesaros, Leila / Schilling, Gabi / Weinkopf, Claudia, 2012: The effects of pay reforms and procurement strategies on wage and employment inequalities in the public sector: the case of Germany. Executive Summary. European Commission project: "Public sector pay and social dialogue during the fiscal crisis" VS/2011/0141. Duisburg: Inst. Arbeit und Qualifikation | Lesen
Lectures
Dr. Claudia Weinkopf, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Bosch: Public sector pay reforms, social dialogue and the shifting national and local terrains. Regulating for equitable and job-rich growth: the third conference of the regulating for decent work network. In Kooperation mit: International Labour Office (ILO), Geneva, Switzerland , 04.07.2013
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Bosch: The Impacts of Public Sector Pay Reforms in a Context of Austerity: Evidence from Europe (Symposium)—Leucadia. Allied Social Science Associations (ASSA) / American Economic Associations (AEA) Annual Meeting: "New Economic Realities: Risk, Inequality and Workplace Relations", January 4-6, 2013. San Diego, CA, ASSA/AEA , 05.01.2013
Gabi Schilling: Procurement and 'internal externalisation' of local government services. Research findings at local level in the five selected European countries (together with Maya Bacache). Public sector pay and procurement strategies during austerity, Final Conference, Round table 2. Brüssel, Manchester Business School, European Commission, 22.11.2012 Vortragsfolien
Gabi Schilling: Austerity and its impact on public sector work - How German authorities face these challenges. Stream 2: Pathways to recovery. Pathways to recovery: an agenda for another Europe. 33rd annual conference of the International Working Party on Labour Market Segmentation. Italy, Rome, IWPLMS, 14.09.2012
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Bosch: Public sector policies in Germany. Adjustments in the Public Sector in Europe: Scope, effects and policy issues. Belgium, Brussels, Hotel Crowne Plaza Rogier, Vision Room, International Labour Office in cooperation with the European Commission, 21.06.2012 Vortragsfolien
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Bosch: Shrinking the state: The decade of de-nationalisation in Germany. "New Economic Realities: Risk, Inequality and Workplace Relations". The impacts of public sector pay reforms in a context of austerity: Evidence from Europe (Symposium) . USA, Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University, LERA in 2013 ASSA/AEA Annual Meeting, 05.01.2012