In Defence of the Unions

Professor Minford's claim that unions force a million workers out of jobs neglects several important factors, according to J. R. Shackleton, who cites various studies in support. Professor Minford replies with the rasoning behind his estimate and maintains his claim formassive reduction in union power is unaffected.     

A comparative analysis of the economic movements on the basis of a growth matrix

This paper considers the comparative analysis of the economic aggregates on the basis of the growth matrix and the corresponding blocks of growth. The aim is to synthetically encompass and analyze indicators of the aggregates (output, revenue, income, accumulation, etc.) through the blocks of growth. The block of growth represents a general scheme of growth of the ith and jth aggregates and enables the determination of important indicators P, Q, E and K. In other words, the block of growth is used to establish indicators of the ith and jth aggregates and, at the same time, for describing their absolute and relative changes as well as discovering the trends of these changes in the ensuing period. In this way, it is possible to analyze the structural and dynamic changes of aggregates and determine their behaviour in subsequent periods.     

Unions,integration and society

An analysis of the role of trade unions in a democratic society and the problems of overcoming the general apathy of members leads the author to suggest ways of increasing participation in union activities.     

Unions and involuntary job separations

In contrast to the extensive literature on the effects of unions on wages, productivity and voluntary job endings, the effect of unions on involuntary job endings has received relatively little attention. This article demonstrates how unions alter involuntary job separation (redundancies, temporary job endings and dismissals) rates at different tenure levels using the British Household Panel Survey data from 1991 to 2008. A novel finding is that being a union member reduces a person's redundancy probability at low‐tenure levels, relative to an employee of a non‐unionised firm, but has no significant effect at high tenure levels. Union membership and union recognition are not related to different rates of temporary job endings.     

Unions and the financial performance of british private sector establishments

This paper considers the relationship between unions and financial performance using data from the 1980 and 1984 Workplace Industrial Relations Surveys. A qualitative indicator of financial performance is utilized and ordered probit estimates presented. These indicate that unionized establishments are characterized by lower performance levels than are non-union concerns. The interface between union effects and relative market power is also explored and the ability of unions to extract a share of the available rents is found to be greater if the plants in which they are located possess a higher market share.     

企业工会在新劳资关系中的探讨

长期以来，在华外资企业给外界的主要印象是收入高、管理规范，许多国人也以在外企工作为荣。但是，据有关部门调查发现，部分知名的外资企业，或多年未建工会、或工会组织不健全。有关报告显示，截至2004年底，我国非公有制企业建立工会的只有80多万家，工会会员总数为1．2亿余人，全国工会基层组织总数为90多万个。随着我国非公有制经济的发展，外商投资企业、私营企业职工大量增加，企业工会组建过程中遇到不少阻力。全国非公有制企业职工人会率只达到了33％，全国工会经费平均收缴率只有36％。     

Research into public attitudes and the attitudes of the public to inflation

The purpose of this paper has been to compare research evidence related to consumer attitudes to specific price increases and to inflation as a general phenomenon with attitudes of British governments as expressed in government anti-inflation policies. In carrying out the enquiries the aim was to bridge the gap between economics and psychology. The findings indicate that the learning and relearning of prices in time of inflation presents considerable problems; so does communication between governments and the public. One message which would appear to have got through to governments is that of consumer discontent with rising prices. In response governments have at times introduced price restraint policies. The author suggests that the existence of inflation has shifted the focus of attention from satisfactions to dissatisfactions and that it may be necessary therefore to examine which factors are most important for consumer studies and for government policies: consumer attempts to maximize their satisfactions or their attempts to minimize their discontents?     

Trade Unions and the State: A Review of the Crisis

With the post-war breakdown of the industrial relations consensus ‘the trade union question’ has been central to British politics. In this article, the authors argue that no settlement will be lightly achieved and that it will require detailed policies based on radical principles. The alternative is a continuation of the long drawn out crisis until sectional demands and strife provoke increasing forms of state control.     

Unions,organisation change and alcohol policy

There is little doubt that company policies which successfully attempt to change employee behaviour patterns require a high level of trade union involvement. Workplace alcoholism policies are an example of this kind of initiative. This article presents some preliminary, survey evidence on the extent to which alcohol policies have been introduced in Scotland.     

让企业规章制度和工会组织为企业保驾护航

经济补偿是《劳动合同法》新增加的内容，明确企业通过完善企业规章制度和建立工会组织，能更好地为企业保驾护航。     

让企业规章制度和工会组织为企业保驾护航

经济补偿是<劳动合同法>新增加的内容,明确企业通过完善企业规章制度和建立工会组织,能更好地为企业保驾护航.     

Unions Bow before Winds of Change

The revolutionary agreement between the Japanese car manufacturer, Nissan, and the Associated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW) at Nissan's Washington plant (top right) could herald an extraordinary change in British labour relations. Dr Charles Hanson (right) of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, argues that British manufacturing must follow the Nissan example or the future will look bleak.     

Assessing the economic knowledge and economic opinions of adults

This study investigates public knowledge of basic economics and public opinion on economic issues. The primary data sources are five national surveys, administered from 1992 to 1999, which contain a rich set of questions to conduct multiple tests and comparisons of the factors that affect economic knowledge and public opinion. As a whole, the results offer significantly stronger evidence of factors that influence knowledge and opinion than is possible from a study of a particular sample of adults using a single set of survey questions.The analysis proceeds in two ways following methods that were originally used with one of the five data sets, a 1992 survey of adults (Walstad, 1997). First, a regression model is specified and estimated with each data set to identify how personal characteristics, general education, course work in economics, income, and political party affect economic knowledge. Second, probit analysis is used to evaluate the effect of economic knowledge on public opinion on selected economic issues after controlling for the above variables. The results from the 1992 data serve as the baseline for comparing the findings across the other surveys.     

The impact of corporate entrepreneurship and high-performance work systems on employees' job attitudes: empirical evidence from Greece during the economic downturn

In turbulent times, corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and high-performance work systems (HPWSs) are expected to expand and flourish. However, research on the influences of both CE and HPWSs on employees' job attitudes has generally been neglected. The aim of this study is twofold. First is to investigate the effects of CE and HPWSs on facets of job satisfaction and the three components of organisational commitment. Second is, consistent with the social exchange theory, to examine whether psychological contract act as an important mediator for the CE, HPWSs and employees' job attitudes relationships. Empirical evidence was obtained from 424 employees in the Greek manufacturing industry. Results indicate that both CE and HPWSs positively impact employees' level of job satisfaction and organisational commitment. In addition, we find evidence that psychological contract theory provides a coherent theoretical framework for understanding these relationships. Theoretical and practical implications for HR managers conclude the article.     

北京市汽车工业战略联盟博弈

本文分析了北京汽车工业内外战略联盟关系，给出了有中心企业的多方、多阶段组织博弈的数学描述，以及多方、多阶段战略联盟博弈模型。依据战略联盟博弈模型分析的结果对北汽控股公司内外战略联盟的建立提出若干建议。     

浅论高校学生会建设

本文结合高校学生会实际情况,从加强高校学生会机构建设、完善高校学生会管理制度、构建高校学生会组织文化三个方面对如何加强高校学生会建设展开论述。     

Chaebol,Unions, and the Profitability of Korean Firms Before and After the Crisis

Before the 1997 crisis, Korean firms destroyed shareholder value and chronically produced nonperforming loans for financial institutions. In particular, chaebol‐affiliated and unionized firms did so, with lower profitability among the financially unsound firms. Chaebol and unions thus functioned as institutional devices whereby managers and workers undermined the interest of taxpayers as well as shareholders. After the crisis, firms no longer destroy shareholder value or produce nonperforming loans. Chaebol‐affiliated and unionized firms have higher profitability among the financially unsound firms. Chaebol and unions have thus ceased to function as institutional devices whereby managers and workers undermine the interest of shareholders and taxpayers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.