Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Political Economy Model of Workers Representation: The Case of Union Elections in Spain

  • Published:
European Journal of Law and Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this article we present a political economy model to analyse the effects of union elections. Union elections are the prerequisite for participating in collective bargaining and they are a unique Spanish institution for union recognition. We apply standard political economy assumptions to model the union elections in order to understand their influence on the dynamics of the unemployment rate. Although union elections give the right to vote to virtually all workers, we show that insider power exists and that it introduces a hysteresis effect on the unemployment rate. In addition, the model shows how the date of the union elections can amplify the business cycle. An empirical analysis confirms the main predictions of the model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberola, E., Marqués, J. M., & Sanchí;s A. (1998). “Independencia de los bancos centrales, desempleo y su relación con la inflación.” Moneda y Crédito. 207, 115–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alogoskoufis, G. S. & Manning, A. (1992). “On the Persistence of Unemployment.” Economic Policy. 7, 428–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arellano, M. & Bond, S. (1991). “Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations.” Review of Economic Studies. 58, 277–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baltagi, B. H. (2001). Econometric Analysis of Panel Data, 2nd ed. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentolila, S. & Dolado J. J. (1994). “Labour Flexibility and Wages, Lessons from Spain.” Economic Policy, 18, 54–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, A. (1995). The Economics of the Trade Union, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, A., Burda, M., Calmfors, L., Checchi, D., Naylor, R., & Visser, J. (2000). “What Do Unions Do in Europe? Prospects and Challenges for Union Presence and Union Influence.” Fondazione Rodolfo De Benedetti, mimeo.

  • Garcí;a, J., Gutiérrez, R., & Rodrí;guez-Sañudo, F. (1995). “La incidencia de los criterios de representatividad en la configuración del sistema sindical español.” In J. J. Dolado & J. F. Jimeno (eds.), Estudios sobre el funcionamiento del mercado de trabajo español. FEDEA, Madrid, pp. 245–284.

  • Goetschy, J. (1998). “France: The Limits of Reform.” In A. Ferner & R. Hyman (eds.), Changing Industrial Relations in Europe. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 357–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jimeno, J. F. & Toharia, L. (1993). “The Effects of Fixed Term Employment on Wages, Theory and Evidence from Spain.” Investigaciones Económicas. XVII(3), 475–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jódar, P. & Jordana, J. (1999). “Current Developments in Trade Union Elections.” European Industrial Relations Observatory, electronic document, {http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/1999/02/Feature/ES9902298F.html} (last access: 2002-09-22).

  • Layard, R., Nickell, S., & Jackman, R. (1991). Unemployment. Macroeconomic Performance and The Labour Market. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindbeck, A. & Snower, D. (1988). The Insider-Outsider Theory of Employment and Unemployment. Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martí;nez Lucio, M. (1998). “Spain: Regulating Employment and Social Fragmentation.” In A. Ferner & R. Hyman (eds.), Changing Industrial Relations in Europe. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 426–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • MTSS (1992). Elecciones Sindicales, Madrid: Employment and Social Security Ministry, vol. 2.

  • Navarro, F. (1993). La representatividad Sindical. Madrid: Ministerio de Trabajo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordhaus, W. (1989). “Alternative Approaches to the Political Business Cycle.” Brooking Papers of Economic Activity, 2, 1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivero, J. (1993). “La Legitimación Empresarial Para La Negociación Colectiva. Asociaciones Empresariales Legitimadas Para Negociar. La Legitimación En Grupos de Empresas.” In Los lí;mites del convenio colectivo, la legitimación empresarial y órganos para la resolución de conflictos. Ministry of Labour: Madrid, pp. 71–126.

  • Toharia, L. (dir.) (1997). Spain, Labour Market Studies series No. 1, Employment and Social Affairs, European Commission, Brussels.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Economí;a e Historia Económica, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    MIGUEL A. MALO

  2. Edificio FES—Campus “Miguel de Unamuno,”, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    MIGUEL A. MALO

Authors
  1. MIGUEL A. MALO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to MIGUEL A. MALO.

Additional information

JEL Classification: K31, J51, E24

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MALO, M.A. A Political Economy Model of Workers Representation: The Case of Union Elections in Spain. Eur J Law Econ 19, 115–134 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-005-5278-1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-005-5278-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation