The Impact of Workplace Codetermination: Findings from the Third Phase of Research

Abstract

In this chapter we review findings from the most recent phase of German research into the impact of works councils. Since the hallmark of this research is the use of large data sets, we shall begin with a brief descriptive statement of this material. We next present the evidence along three main dimensions: “standard” performance outcomes (productivity, investment, and employment); employee/involvement high performance work practices and their relationship with works councils; and wage effects. In our concluding remarks we draw together the threads of the preceding arguments, comment on a new line of post —works council research, and sketch some topics of future inquiry.