Can Voluntary Workplace Partnership Deliver Sustainable Mutual Gains?

This article draws on two Irish case studies to examine the nature and outcomes of voluntary workplace partnership (WP), and the conditions affecting its durability. We found that WP delivered mutual gains for all stakeholders at Aughinish Alumina (AAL), which were quite equally divided. While WP delivered most gains for management at Waterford Crystal (WC), and some for the union, worker gains were less. The WC partnership broke down after 10 years, but the AAL partnership continues. Voluntarist mutual gains partnership is feasible, but success and durability depends on specific clusters of contextual conditions, notably management support, a quality‐focused competitive strategy, insulation from market pressures, union postures, vertically aligned bundles of mutual gains practices, institutional supports, emphasis on fairness, all party commitment to performance enhancement and capital‐intensive technology. Conditions supporting WP were stronger at AAL than WC. More generally, as supports for WP in Ireland are weaker than retardants, we conclude that few mutual gains partnerships will take root, and even fewer will endure.     

The Ethics and Mechanics of Social Democracy or Having it Both Ways

Why is the West in‘becalmed stagnaion’— unable to overcome the obstacles to economic liberalisation? Has the social democratic dream turned sour? The electoral success of social democratic policies can be explained in its offer to let taxpayers have their cake and eat it, argues Anthony de Jasay, a former Oxford don and author of The State. He examines the potential domage to individual thrift, ambition and responsibility that such mistaken doctrines can induce.     

Practitioners' forum perestroika and soviet biotechnology

This article summarizes the findings of a UK Department of Trade and Industry 'Overseas Science and Technology Expert Mission' on Biotechnology to the USSR, made over the period 15-24 September 1989. The mission visited some of the most important basic research institutes working in biotechnmology in the Moscow region, including the 'Biocity' of Poushchino, and Kiev in the Ukrainian SSR. These institutes ranged from primarily basic research to ones which had strong links with industrial production. We report on the scientific and technical level of some of the most advanced Soviet centres, such as the Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the most important and prominent biotechnology institute in the USSR. The peculiar problems which best Soviet research in the field are described in the context of perestroika, the current restruing of Soviet society.     

Industrial relations in Canada: a search for accommodation

Here the author reviews recent trends and the emerging issues in Canadian industrial relations. The focus is on union organization, the changing economic, labour market and public policy environment, and the key issues facing unions and management. He argues that both unions and management must continue to seek accommodation to survive in the competitive world of the 1990s.     

Requiem for a lightweight: The Northrop f-20 strategic initiative

This study focuses upon the recently discontinued F-20 program of the Northrop Corporation. Northrop's strategic initiative is analyzed historically and comparatively, and the implications of the program failure are discussed with respect to government procurement policy, defense contracting, international trade and arms transfer, and global competition in aerospace.     

The Informational Role of Product Trade‐Ins for Pricing Durable Goods

This research theorizes that sellers of durable goods can utilize inferences about the buyer's willingness to pay based not only on her decision to trade in the old good but also on its characteristics. We find empirical support for this theory using transaction data for new car purchases. The results support the notion that dealers infer a higher willingness to pay and charge higher prices to consumers who trade in a used vehicle than to those who do not. We also find that dealers charge even higher prices to those consumers who trade in used cars that are similar to the new one.