Jaap Paauwe
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199273904
- eISBN:
- 9780191699726
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199273904.003.0010
- Subject:
- Business and Management, HRM / IR, Organization Studies
The theoretical model of the CBHRT — which includes factors such as industrial relations, strategy, human resource management, and performance — was proved to have value on the sectoral, individual ...
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The theoretical model of the CBHRT — which includes factors such as industrial relations, strategy, human resource management, and performance — was proved to have value on the sectoral, individual organization, and international comparative levels. In attempting to achieve the balance between social justice and competitiveness to further the uniqueness of HRM, this book has tried to illustrate some practical insights on HR roles and introduce the 4logic HRM scorecard. Research and development in the area of HRM and performance carries on as this proves to be a relevant topic for enchancing the competitive advantage of firms. HRM is concerned with several issues regarding legitimacy, fairness, sustainability, and other such issues. This concluding chapter realizes that it takes a lot to study the factors that shape HRM practices and policies, and it is important for practitioners to consider a unique HRM approach that is appropriate for their respective organizations.Less
The theoretical model of the CBHRT — which includes factors such as industrial relations, strategy, human resource management, and performance — was proved to have value on the sectoral, individual organization, and international comparative levels. In attempting to achieve the balance between social justice and competitiveness to further the uniqueness of HRM, this book has tried to illustrate some practical insights on HR roles and introduce the 4logic HRM scorecard. Research and development in the area of HRM and performance carries on as this proves to be a relevant topic for enchancing the competitive advantage of firms. HRM is concerned with several issues regarding legitimacy, fairness, sustainability, and other such issues. This concluding chapter realizes that it takes a lot to study the factors that shape HRM practices and policies, and it is important for practitioners to consider a unique HRM approach that is appropriate for their respective organizations.
Robert Grosse and Luiz F. Mesquita (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199233755
- eISBN:
- 9780191715549
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199233755.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, International Business
In many discussions of globalization and growth, attention focuses on Asia, notably China, South Korea, and India. In contrast, this book looks at business developments in another key emerging market ...
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In many discussions of globalization and growth, attention focuses on Asia, notably China, South Korea, and India. In contrast, this book looks at business developments in another key emerging market region, Latin America. It examines the success and failure of Latin American firms in their own markets and elsewhere in the world, the reasons behind these outcomes, and these firms' future prospects. Contributors to this book draw on concepts from organization theory, industrial organization, economics, marketing, sociology, and political science. The book includes sections on the broad themes of competitiveness in Latin America, micro-level strategies of firms in specific sectors, and the competitiveness of firms in specific countries and competing in emerging markets. The cases examined range in size and sector, and include some of the largest firms in Latin America, such as as Embraer in Brazil, Quiñenco (Luksic) in Chile, Techint in Argentina, Grupo Carso in Mexico, Cisneros in Venezuela, and Grupo Empresarial Antioqueño in Colombia.Less
In many discussions of globalization and growth, attention focuses on Asia, notably China, South Korea, and India. In contrast, this book looks at business developments in another key emerging market region, Latin America. It examines the success and failure of Latin American firms in their own markets and elsewhere in the world, the reasons behind these outcomes, and these firms' future prospects. Contributors to this book draw on concepts from organization theory, industrial organization, economics, marketing, sociology, and political science. The book includes sections on the broad themes of competitiveness in Latin America, micro-level strategies of firms in specific sectors, and the competitiveness of firms in specific countries and competing in emerging markets. The cases examined range in size and sector, and include some of the largest firms in Latin America, such as as Embraer in Brazil, Quiñenco (Luksic) in Chile, Techint in Argentina, Grupo Carso in Mexico, Cisneros in Venezuela, and Grupo Empresarial Antioqueño in Colombia.
Andrea M. Herrmann
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199543434
- eISBN:
- 9780191715693
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199543434.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy, Political Economy
This book examines how firms adapt to the pressures of increasing international competition by testing both the arguments on ‘strategy specialization’ proposed in the competitiveness literature in ...
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This book examines how firms adapt to the pressures of increasing international competition by testing both the arguments on ‘strategy specialization’ proposed in the competitiveness literature in general, and those offered by contributors to the ‘varieties of capitalism’ debate in particular. If different economies are characterized by distinct institutional arrangements — successful firms would be the ones that exploit their comparative advantages and specialize in the competitive strategies facilitated by national institutions. The book begins with an assessment of how many pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK pursue strategies facilitated by national institutions governing financial markets, antitrust activities, and the labour market. Quantitative analyses reveal that deviant firms, competing through institutionally unsupported strategies, outnumber conforming firms by far. Not only does this finding run counter to the expectations of the competitiveness literature, it brings up a whole new line of inquiry. How can firms compete through strategies that are not supported by national institutions? To address this question, the book combines quantitative analyses with qualitative insights, showing that firms do not necessarily exploit comparative institutional advantages, but that they can successfully circumvent institutional constraints. International markets and individual collaboration on a contractual basis allow firms to compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages. These findings suggest that trade liberalization tends to foster strategy diversification rather than strategy specialization, depending on the inventiveness of entrepreneurs in developing individual approaches toward competing.Less
This book examines how firms adapt to the pressures of increasing international competition by testing both the arguments on ‘strategy specialization’ proposed in the competitiveness literature in general, and those offered by contributors to the ‘varieties of capitalism’ debate in particular. If different economies are characterized by distinct institutional arrangements — successful firms would be the ones that exploit their comparative advantages and specialize in the competitive strategies facilitated by national institutions. The book begins with an assessment of how many pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK pursue strategies facilitated by national institutions governing financial markets, antitrust activities, and the labour market. Quantitative analyses reveal that deviant firms, competing through institutionally unsupported strategies, outnumber conforming firms by far. Not only does this finding run counter to the expectations of the competitiveness literature, it brings up a whole new line of inquiry. How can firms compete through strategies that are not supported by national institutions? To address this question, the book combines quantitative analyses with qualitative insights, showing that firms do not necessarily exploit comparative institutional advantages, but that they can successfully circumvent institutional constraints. International markets and individual collaboration on a contractual basis allow firms to compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages. These findings suggest that trade liberalization tends to foster strategy diversification rather than strategy specialization, depending on the inventiveness of entrepreneurs in developing individual approaches toward competing.
Erik Jones
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199208333
- eISBN:
- 9780191708985
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199208333.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Economy
This chapter examines how the breakdown of consociational democracy (depillarization) complicated the process of consensus building, and so made it more difficult for Belgium and the Netherlands to ...
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This chapter examines how the breakdown of consociational democracy (depillarization) complicated the process of consensus building, and so made it more difficult for Belgium and the Netherlands to benefit from European integration. It describes the economic shocks that affected both countries that resulted in lost competitiveness, mounting unemployment, and current account and fiscal deficits. The chapter then sets out the necessary conditions for an effective response. This response involved an important transfer of income and resources from labour to capital. The challenge, therefore, was to build consensus around the need for such redistribution. It was also necessary to develop new institutions for exchange rate stabilization at the European level.Less
This chapter examines how the breakdown of consociational democracy (depillarization) complicated the process of consensus building, and so made it more difficult for Belgium and the Netherlands to benefit from European integration. It describes the economic shocks that affected both countries that resulted in lost competitiveness, mounting unemployment, and current account and fiscal deficits. The chapter then sets out the necessary conditions for an effective response. This response involved an important transfer of income and resources from labour to capital. The challenge, therefore, was to build consensus around the need for such redistribution. It was also necessary to develop new institutions for exchange rate stabilization at the European level.
Andrea M. Herrmann
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199543434
- eISBN:
- 9780191715693
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199543434.003.0002
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy, Political Economy
This chapter opens by contrasting two opposing theories on how firms respond to the increasing pressures of international competition: the resource-based view of strategic management on the one hand, ...
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This chapter opens by contrasting two opposing theories on how firms respond to the increasing pressures of international competition: the resource-based view of strategic management on the one hand, and the competitiveness literature on the other. Given that contributors to the competitiveness literature offer more developed theories, the chapter proceeds by assessing their hypotheses on comparative institutional advantages. It thus analyses whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK specialize in the pursuit of a strategy facilitated by national institutions. Since these micro-level analyses do not provide empirical support for the specialization idea, which is typically based on macro-level indicators, a higher level of data aggregation can lead to an overestimation of specialization trends. But if firms in different economies can pursue different competitive strategies, how can they compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages? This concluding question of the chapter is addressed in Part II, including Chapters 3, 4, and 5 of the book.Less
This chapter opens by contrasting two opposing theories on how firms respond to the increasing pressures of international competition: the resource-based view of strategic management on the one hand, and the competitiveness literature on the other. Given that contributors to the competitiveness literature offer more developed theories, the chapter proceeds by assessing their hypotheses on comparative institutional advantages. It thus analyses whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK specialize in the pursuit of a strategy facilitated by national institutions. Since these micro-level analyses do not provide empirical support for the specialization idea, which is typically based on macro-level indicators, a higher level of data aggregation can lead to an overestimation of specialization trends. But if firms in different economies can pursue different competitive strategies, how can they compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages? This concluding question of the chapter is addressed in Part II, including Chapters 3, 4, and 5 of the book.
Andrea M. Herrmann
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199543434
- eISBN:
- 9780191715693
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199543434.003.0003
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy, Political Economy
This chapter analyses how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national financial-market institutions. It first studies whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK ...
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This chapter analyses how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national financial-market institutions. It first studies whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK require different types of financing to pursue strategies of radical product innovation, incremental product innovation, and product imitation, respectively. Since quantitative analyses of corporate balance sheets show this to be the case, the chapter goes on to ask how firms can acquire the necessary financial means if their provision is limited by unfavourable national institutions. Illustrating how firms collaborate with foreign investors, it identifies international financial markets as a functional equivalent to national institutions promoting the availability of institutional (venture) capital. It concludes with reflections on how these findings contribute to the resource-based view and the competitiveness literature, and illustrates how a Schumpeterian perception of firms as creative entrepreneurs helps to explain how they compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages.Less
This chapter analyses how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national financial-market institutions. It first studies whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK require different types of financing to pursue strategies of radical product innovation, incremental product innovation, and product imitation, respectively. Since quantitative analyses of corporate balance sheets show this to be the case, the chapter goes on to ask how firms can acquire the necessary financial means if their provision is limited by unfavourable national institutions. Illustrating how firms collaborate with foreign investors, it identifies international financial markets as a functional equivalent to national institutions promoting the availability of institutional (venture) capital. It concludes with reflections on how these findings contribute to the resource-based view and the competitiveness literature, and illustrates how a Schumpeterian perception of firms as creative entrepreneurs helps to explain how they compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages.
Andrea M. Herrmann
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199543434
- eISBN:
- 9780191715693
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199543434.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy, Political Economy
This chapter examines how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national antitrust legislation. It first studies whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK develop ...
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This chapter examines how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national antitrust legislation. It first studies whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK develop different types of component standards to pursue strategies of radical product innovation, incremental product innovation, and product imitation, respectively. Since quantitative analyses of interviews with Quality Assurance managers show that firms differ in their standardization approaches according to the strategies they pursue, the chapter also looks at how national antitrust legislation affects these strategies. Contrary to the findings in the previous chapter, qualitative analyses of interviews suggest that national antitrust legislation constitutes neither a comparative institutional advantage nor a disadvantage. The chapter concludes with reflections on how these findings contribute to the resource-based view and the competitiveness literature, and on reasons why a Schumpeterian perception of firms as creative entrepreneurs may nevertheless help to explain how firms gain competitive advantages.Less
This chapter examines how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national antitrust legislation. It first studies whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK develop different types of component standards to pursue strategies of radical product innovation, incremental product innovation, and product imitation, respectively. Since quantitative analyses of interviews with Quality Assurance managers show that firms differ in their standardization approaches according to the strategies they pursue, the chapter also looks at how national antitrust legislation affects these strategies. Contrary to the findings in the previous chapter, qualitative analyses of interviews suggest that national antitrust legislation constitutes neither a comparative institutional advantage nor a disadvantage. The chapter concludes with reflections on how these findings contribute to the resource-based view and the competitiveness literature, and on reasons why a Schumpeterian perception of firms as creative entrepreneurs may nevertheless help to explain how firms gain competitive advantages.
Andrea M. Herrmann
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199543434
- eISBN:
- 9780191715693
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199543434.003.0005
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy, Political Economy
This chapter investigates how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national labour-market institutions. It first analyses whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK ...
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This chapter investigates how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national labour-market institutions. It first analyses whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK require employees with different types of skills to pursue strategies of radical product innovation, incremental product innovation, and product imitation, respectively. Since quantitative analyses of employees' skill profiles show this to be the case, the chapter goes on to ask how firms can acquire the necessary skill types if their availability is limited by unfavourable labour-market institutions. Illustrating how firms hire employees from abroad and on the basis of atypical contracts, the chapter identifies international labour markets and contracts as functional equivalents to national labour-market institutions. It concludes with reflections on how these findings contribute to the resource-based view and the competitiveness literature, and illustrates that a Schumpeterian perception of firms as creative entrepreneurs can help to explain how firms compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages.Less
This chapter investigates how firms can compete despite comparative disadvantages of national labour-market institutions. It first analyses whether pharmaceutical firms in Germany, Italy, and the UK require employees with different types of skills to pursue strategies of radical product innovation, incremental product innovation, and product imitation, respectively. Since quantitative analyses of employees' skill profiles show this to be the case, the chapter goes on to ask how firms can acquire the necessary skill types if their availability is limited by unfavourable labour-market institutions. Illustrating how firms hire employees from abroad and on the basis of atypical contracts, the chapter identifies international labour markets and contracts as functional equivalents to national labour-market institutions. It concludes with reflections on how these findings contribute to the resource-based view and the competitiveness literature, and illustrates that a Schumpeterian perception of firms as creative entrepreneurs can help to explain how firms compete despite comparative institutional disadvantages.
Xiudian Dai
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199535026
- eISBN:
- 9780191715860
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199535026.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, European Union
The Commission promotes a competitive technology and related industrial policy through its coordination Framework Programmes. Commission funding is concentrated on a variety of Information Society ...
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The Commission promotes a competitive technology and related industrial policy through its coordination Framework Programmes. Commission funding is concentrated on a variety of Information Society Technologies. This chapter examines its role through two case studies of advanced television broadcasting technologies projects: High Definition Television (HDTV) and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB). Competing leadership candidates with the Commission for HDTV included the French and Dutch national governments and major firms based on government-industry collusion in the service of competitiveness. The HDTV flagship project to meet the Japanese and American challenge, supported by the Commission and Council of Ministers with subsidies, was a failure of European technology policy. The DVB firm-led consortium has by contrast been market-driven and successful without public subsidy.Less
The Commission promotes a competitive technology and related industrial policy through its coordination Framework Programmes. Commission funding is concentrated on a variety of Information Society Technologies. This chapter examines its role through two case studies of advanced television broadcasting technologies projects: High Definition Television (HDTV) and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB). Competing leadership candidates with the Commission for HDTV included the French and Dutch national governments and major firms based on government-industry collusion in the service of competitiveness. The HDTV flagship project to meet the Japanese and American challenge, supported by the Commission and Council of Ministers with subsidies, was a failure of European technology policy. The DVB firm-led consortium has by contrast been market-driven and successful without public subsidy.
Philip Manow
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198297567
- eISBN:
- 9780191600104
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198297564.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This is the second of three chapters on the role of economic interests, and of systems for representing those interests, in the politics of welfare state reform. They explore the linkages between ...
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This is the second of three chapters on the role of economic interests, and of systems for representing those interests, in the politics of welfare state reform. They explore the linkages between national welfare states and national economies, and examine the processes through which economic actors press their interests on policy makers. Section 1 of Manow's chapter offers a critical account of contributions that predict the formation of new political coalitions along the cleavage line between those firms and workers that are forced to adjust to international market pressures and those that enjoy domestic shelter from globalized markets; a brief discussion is included of the relative importance of the electorate in current welfare reforms as compared with the role played by organized interests of capital and labour. Section 2 presents a transaction cost argument that seeks to identify one central logic linking production and protection in continental welfare states and coordinated market economies, respectively; the central argument is that generous welfare state programmes may enhance and not diminish international competitiveness and can be part of the comparative institutional advantage of an economy rather than solely contributing to its comparative cost disadvantage. Section 3 concludes by briefly discussing the implications of the argument presented in Sect. 2 for the present debate on the compensatory role of the welfare state in a globalized economy.Less
This is the second of three chapters on the role of economic interests, and of systems for representing those interests, in the politics of welfare state reform. They explore the linkages between national welfare states and national economies, and examine the processes through which economic actors press their interests on policy makers. Section 1 of Manow's chapter offers a critical account of contributions that predict the formation of new political coalitions along the cleavage line between those firms and workers that are forced to adjust to international market pressures and those that enjoy domestic shelter from globalized markets; a brief discussion is included of the relative importance of the electorate in current welfare reforms as compared with the role played by organized interests of capital and labour. Section 2 presents a transaction cost argument that seeks to identify one central logic linking production and protection in continental welfare states and coordinated market economies, respectively; the central argument is that generous welfare state programmes may enhance and not diminish international competitiveness and can be part of the comparative institutional advantage of an economy rather than solely contributing to its comparative cost disadvantage. Section 3 concludes by briefly discussing the implications of the argument presented in Sect. 2 for the present debate on the compensatory role of the welfare state in a globalized economy.
Herman Schwartz
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199240920
- eISBN:
- 9780191600180
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199240922.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
While the formal welfare states of Australia and New Zealand resembled the British model in the post‐war period, economic policies and industrial‐relations systems differed. As highly competitive ...
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While the formal welfare states of Australia and New Zealand resembled the British model in the post‐war period, economic policies and industrial‐relations systems differed. As highly competitive exporters of agricultural products and raw materials, both countries had developed highly protected import‐substituting manufacturing industries to ensure full employment as a complement to the minimal protection provided by the ‘liberal’ welfare state. When this configuration ceased to be economically viable in the 1970s, both countries chose to liberalize their industrial sectors, attempting to achieve price competitiveness through government‐controlled wage‐setting procedures. In New Zealand, these efforts failed and its Westminster‐type government opted for radical neo‐liberal reforms in the 1980s that reduced welfare‐state protection and caused a steep rise of unemployment. In Australia, by contrast, unions were better able to cooperate with the government in defending international competitiveness, and federal and bicameral institutions did favour policy compromises that combined liberalization with the maintenance and even expansion of welfare‐state protection.Less
While the formal welfare states of Australia and New Zealand resembled the British model in the post‐war period, economic policies and industrial‐relations systems differed. As highly competitive exporters of agricultural products and raw materials, both countries had developed highly protected import‐substituting manufacturing industries to ensure full employment as a complement to the minimal protection provided by the ‘liberal’ welfare state. When this configuration ceased to be economically viable in the 1970s, both countries chose to liberalize their industrial sectors, attempting to achieve price competitiveness through government‐controlled wage‐setting procedures. In New Zealand, these efforts failed and its Westminster‐type government opted for radical neo‐liberal reforms in the 1980s that reduced welfare‐state protection and caused a steep rise of unemployment. In Australia, by contrast, unions were better able to cooperate with the government in defending international competitiveness, and federal and bicameral institutions did favour policy compromises that combined liberalization with the maintenance and even expansion of welfare‐state protection.
Giuliano Bonoli and André Mach
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199240920
- eISBN:
- 9780191600180
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199240922.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
Among ‘Continental’ welfare states, Switzerland had and has the highest per capita income and the highest employment ratio in the group of advanced welfare states included in this study. Its ...
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Among ‘Continental’ welfare states, Switzerland had and has the highest per capita income and the highest employment ratio in the group of advanced welfare states included in this study. Its export‐oriented industries and services have remained highly competitive; its levels of taxation and welfare expenditures are low; and its labour‐market institutions are highly flexible. Nevertheless, Switzerland suffered severe job losses in the first oil‐price crisis and responded by introducing compulsory unemployment insurance. In the 1980s and 1990s, political pressures from export‐oriented businesses were successful in reducing the tariff and non‐tariff barriers, protecting the sheltered sectors of the Swiss economy, whose inefficiency was beginning to hurt the competitiveness of internationally exposed firms. However, when the demand for neo‐liberal reforms touched on the benefits provided by the — not particularly generous — Swiss welfare state, they were stopped not by the ‘social partners’ as in other consociational/ corporatist democracies, or by electoral shifts in governments, but by the direct democracy of the referendum system. As a consequence, limited retrenchment had to be combined with some important extensions of welfare coverage.Less
Among ‘Continental’ welfare states, Switzerland had and has the highest per capita income and the highest employment ratio in the group of advanced welfare states included in this study. Its export‐oriented industries and services have remained highly competitive; its levels of taxation and welfare expenditures are low; and its labour‐market institutions are highly flexible. Nevertheless, Switzerland suffered severe job losses in the first oil‐price crisis and responded by introducing compulsory unemployment insurance. In the 1980s and 1990s, political pressures from export‐oriented businesses were successful in reducing the tariff and non‐tariff barriers, protecting the sheltered sectors of the Swiss economy, whose inefficiency was beginning to hurt the competitiveness of internationally exposed firms. However, when the demand for neo‐liberal reforms touched on the benefits provided by the — not particularly generous — Swiss welfare state, they were stopped not by the ‘social partners’ as in other consociational/ corporatist democracies, or by electoral shifts in governments, but by the direct democracy of the referendum system. As a consequence, limited retrenchment had to be combined with some important extensions of welfare coverage.
Philip Manow and Eric Seils
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199240920
- eISBN:
- 9780191600180
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199240922.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
Germany was comparatively successful in weathering the macroeconomic crises of the 1970s and early 1980s, and its industrial sector remained highly competitive throughout. Nevertheless, unemployment ...
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Germany was comparatively successful in weathering the macroeconomic crises of the 1970s and early 1980s, and its industrial sector remained highly competitive throughout. Nevertheless, unemployment has been high and is still rising. The impact of unification is only a part of the explanation. Instead, the very formula for Germany's past success is also the key to its current problems. Cooperative labour relations, on which German international competitiveness depends, were maintained by using the welfare state's generous exit options from the labour market for older and less productive workers. Given the prevailing mode of financing the “Bismarckian” welfare state, however, the resulting rise of social security contributions added to the costs of labour throughout the economy. As the government relied on the same solution in coping with the massive employment losses in East Germany after unification, non‐wage labour costs have risen to a level that can be sustained only by highly productive types of work. This constrains the growth of private services that have compensated industrial job losses in other countries.Less
Germany was comparatively successful in weathering the macroeconomic crises of the 1970s and early 1980s, and its industrial sector remained highly competitive throughout. Nevertheless, unemployment has been high and is still rising. The impact of unification is only a part of the explanation. Instead, the very formula for Germany's past success is also the key to its current problems. Cooperative labour relations, on which German international competitiveness depends, were maintained by using the welfare state's generous exit options from the labour market for older and less productive workers. Given the prevailing mode of financing the “Bismarckian” welfare state, however, the resulting rise of social security contributions added to the costs of labour throughout the economy. As the government relied on the same solution in coping with the massive employment losses in East Germany after unification, non‐wage labour costs have risen to a level that can be sustained only by highly productive types of work. This constrains the growth of private services that have compensated industrial job losses in other countries.
Mats Benner and Torben Bundgaard Vad
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199240920
- eISBN:
- 9780191600180
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199240922.003.0009
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
The very generous, service‐oriented ‘social–democratic’ welfare states in Sweden and Denmark did consistently achieve higher levels of overall employment, extremely high levels of public services, ...
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The very generous, service‐oriented ‘social–democratic’ welfare states in Sweden and Denmark did consistently achieve higher levels of overall employment, extremely high levels of public services, greater equality in wages, and higher rates of female employment than either the ‘liberal’ or the ‘Bismarckian’ welfare states covered in this study. Following the liberalization of capital markets and errors of fiscal and monetary policy at the end of the 1980s, however, the Swedish economy went from an overheated boom into a deep recession, which then required significant cutbacks of social spending and public‐sector employment in the 1990s. By contrast, Denmark combined growth‐oriented macroeconomic policies with more flexible labour‐market regulations that allowed it to maintain the high level of public services while also increasing employment in private services. With the rapid recovery of the Swedish economy at the end of the 1990s, both countries are again successful in combining high competitiveness in the international economy with very high levels of social protection.Less
The very generous, service‐oriented ‘social–democratic’ welfare states in Sweden and Denmark did consistently achieve higher levels of overall employment, extremely high levels of public services, greater equality in wages, and higher rates of female employment than either the ‘liberal’ or the ‘Bismarckian’ welfare states covered in this study. Following the liberalization of capital markets and errors of fiscal and monetary policy at the end of the 1980s, however, the Swedish economy went from an overheated boom into a deep recession, which then required significant cutbacks of social spending and public‐sector employment in the 1990s. By contrast, Denmark combined growth‐oriented macroeconomic policies with more flexible labour‐market regulations that allowed it to maintain the high level of public services while also increasing employment in private services. With the rapid recovery of the Swedish economy at the end of the 1990s, both countries are again successful in combining high competitiveness in the international economy with very high levels of social protection.
Meira Levinson
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199250448
- eISBN:
- 9780191599750
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199250448.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Theory
Addresses the practical implementation of the liberal educational ideal. Section 5.1 identifies the ways in which choice, cultural coherence, and citizenship fit together within an autonomy‐driven ...
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Addresses the practical implementation of the liberal educational ideal. Section 5.1 identifies the ways in which choice, cultural coherence, and citizenship fit together within an autonomy‐driven education, and also discusses three other possible liberal or educational aims that should potentially help guide the implementation of the liberal ideal: economic competitiveness, democratic self‐reflection, and equality. Section 5.2 constructs a public policy of liberal education, arguing for strict state regulation of schools (both public/state and private) as well as for school choice in the form of controlled choice. Section 5.3 discusses the changes that would need to take place in the areas of legislation, pre‐service and in‐service teacher training, public dialogue, school accountability, and cultural attitudes about education in order to make the liberal educational ideal a reality, especially in the US and Britain.Less
Addresses the practical implementation of the liberal educational ideal. Section 5.1 identifies the ways in which choice, cultural coherence, and citizenship fit together within an autonomy‐driven education, and also discusses three other possible liberal or educational aims that should potentially help guide the implementation of the liberal ideal: economic competitiveness, democratic self‐reflection, and equality. Section 5.2 constructs a public policy of liberal education, arguing for strict state regulation of schools (both public/state and private) as well as for school choice in the form of controlled choice. Section 5.3 discusses the changes that would need to take place in the areas of legislation, pre‐service and in‐service teacher training, public dialogue, school accountability, and cultural attitudes about education in order to make the liberal educational ideal a reality, especially in the US and Britain.
Bernhard Wessels
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198296614
- eISBN:
- 9780191600227
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198296614.003.0010
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
This chapter is the fifth of six on the question of political representation in the EU. It analyses to what extent institutional differences between the member‐states of the EU are constraining the ...
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This chapter is the fifth of six on the question of political representation in the EU. It analyses to what extent institutional differences between the member‐states of the EU are constraining the attitudes of representatives in respect of one major aspect—whom to represent; this is done by exploring the role orientations of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and comparing them with those of members of 11 national parliaments (MNPs). The first section of the chapter presents a brief conceptualization of representational roles by looking at general conclusions from previous research, and defining 5 representational foci in two dimensions: group specificity (party voters; specific (interest) groups) and regional scope (constituency; all people in the nation concerned; all people in Europe). The next section looks at the distributions of these five foci of representation across parliamentary levels (MEPs or MNPs) over the 15 member‐states of the EU; data are from the 1996 European Parliamentarians Study, and indicate striking differences between countries. The last (and largest) section of the chapter looks for explanations for these differences in foci of representation. These include personal factors (social background; political experience), institutional settings (the regional dimension—the relationship between role orientation, competitiveness and electoral systems; the group dimension—the relationship between role orientation and the encompassiveness and inclusiveness of interest group systems; and the European focus of representation in relation to the size and experience of a member‐state).Less
This chapter is the fifth of six on the question of political representation in the EU. It analyses to what extent institutional differences between the member‐states of the EU are constraining the attitudes of representatives in respect of one major aspect—whom to represent; this is done by exploring the role orientations of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and comparing them with those of members of 11 national parliaments (MNPs). The first section of the chapter presents a brief conceptualization of representational roles by looking at general conclusions from previous research, and defining 5 representational foci in two dimensions: group specificity (party voters; specific (interest) groups) and regional scope (constituency; all people in the nation concerned; all people in Europe). The next section looks at the distributions of these five foci of representation across parliamentary levels (MEPs or MNPs) over the 15 member‐states of the EU; data are from the 1996 European Parliamentarians Study, and indicate striking differences between countries. The last (and largest) section of the chapter looks for explanations for these differences in foci of representation. These include personal factors (social background; political experience), institutional settings (the regional dimension—the relationship between role orientation, competitiveness and electoral systems; the group dimension—the relationship between role orientation and the encompassiveness and inclusiveness of interest group systems; and the European focus of representation in relation to the size and experience of a member‐state).
Colin Crouch
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198296393
- eISBN:
- 9780191599002
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198296398.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union
As nation states lose a number of monetary and fiscal policy powers through the introduction of European monetary union, national industrial relations systems may acquire a new importance. Within ...
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As nation states lose a number of monetary and fiscal policy powers through the introduction of European monetary union, national industrial relations systems may acquire a new importance. Within those countries where neo‐corporatist collective bargaining survives, it becomes a means whereby wages can adapt to different levels of productivity and competitiveness when devaluation and variable interest rates are no longer an option.Less
As nation states lose a number of monetary and fiscal policy powers through the introduction of European monetary union, national industrial relations systems may acquire a new importance. Within those countries where neo‐corporatist collective bargaining survives, it becomes a means whereby wages can adapt to different levels of productivity and competitiveness when devaluation and variable interest rates are no longer an option.
Susan Giaimo
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198297567
- eISBN:
- 9780191600104
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198297564.003.0012
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
In this second of three chapters on the distinctive policy dynamics of particular areas of social provision, Susan Giaimo addresses the issue of whether the success of the reformed welfare state in ...
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In this second of three chapters on the distinctive policy dynamics of particular areas of social provision, Susan Giaimo addresses the issue of whether the success of the reformed welfare state in the shape of payers’ and policy makers’ cost‐containment projects have had as their price the sacrifice of equity and solidarity. These questions are explored through the lens of health care reform in Britain, Germany, and the US since the late 1980s: each a country with a distinctive health care system, which undertook major reform initiatives designed to control health care outlays, and addressed the efficiency and equity goals in markedly different ways. Section I provides a broad background to situate the contemporary politics of health care reform, explaining how and why health care systems in Western countries have come under the stress of increasing cost pressures even as governments and employers have become more apprehensive about the possible effects of the welfare state on economic competitiveness. Section 2 develops the argument in greater depth, explaining how existing health care and political systems provide different opportunities or constraints for payers and the state to pursue unilateral cost‐containment strategies, how health care institutions themselves shape policy preferences and strategies of payers, and how some systems require compromise solutions that reconcile equity with efficiency. Section 3 presents each country's case, and the concluding section considers the broader lessons from health care reform for the contemporary politics of welfare state adjustment.Less
In this second of three chapters on the distinctive policy dynamics of particular areas of social provision, Susan Giaimo addresses the issue of whether the success of the reformed welfare state in the shape of payers’ and policy makers’ cost‐containment projects have had as their price the sacrifice of equity and solidarity. These questions are explored through the lens of health care reform in Britain, Germany, and the US since the late 1980s: each a country with a distinctive health care system, which undertook major reform initiatives designed to control health care outlays, and addressed the efficiency and equity goals in markedly different ways. Section I provides a broad background to situate the contemporary politics of health care reform, explaining how and why health care systems in Western countries have come under the stress of increasing cost pressures even as governments and employers have become more apprehensive about the possible effects of the welfare state on economic competitiveness. Section 2 develops the argument in greater depth, explaining how existing health care and political systems provide different opportunities or constraints for payers and the state to pursue unilateral cost‐containment strategies, how health care institutions themselves shape policy preferences and strategies of payers, and how some systems require compromise solutions that reconcile equity with efficiency. Section 3 presents each country's case, and the concluding section considers the broader lessons from health care reform for the contemporary politics of welfare state adjustment.
Takashi Yunogami
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199297320
- eISBN:
- 9780191711237
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199297320.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Innovation
This chapter argues that the quality regime ultimately deriving from NTT (and the Japanese government, as customer) may have been vital in the ascent of DRAMs in the 1980s, as in telecoms, but it ...
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This chapter argues that the quality regime ultimately deriving from NTT (and the Japanese government, as customer) may have been vital in the ascent of DRAMs in the 1980s, as in telecoms, but it created a path dependent approach to innovation which proved disastrous when the main use of DRAMs switched from mainframes to personal computers. As the market share plummeted, Japanese semiconductor engineers continued to take solace in the fact that they were ‘not beaten in technology’, an attitude which further condemned them to failure. They failed to develop cost-competitive technology and restructuring efforts proved ineffective.Less
This chapter argues that the quality regime ultimately deriving from NTT (and the Japanese government, as customer) may have been vital in the ascent of DRAMs in the 1980s, as in telecoms, but it created a path dependent approach to innovation which proved disastrous when the main use of DRAMs switched from mainframes to personal computers. As the market share plummeted, Japanese semiconductor engineers continued to take solace in the fact that they were ‘not beaten in technology’, an attitude which further condemned them to failure. They failed to develop cost-competitive technology and restructuring efforts proved ineffective.
Andrew Inkpen and Kannan Ramaswamy
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195167207
- eISBN:
- 9780199789825
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195167207.003.0006
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Strategy
This chapter focuses on managing knowledge in the global organization. In the global economy, knowledge is moving around the world at a faster and faster rate. MNEs must develop their strategies by ...
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This chapter focuses on managing knowledge in the global organization. In the global economy, knowledge is moving around the world at a faster and faster rate. MNEs must develop their strategies by tapping into the repositories of knowledge that exist in all parts of the company. This chapter explores the nature of organizational knowledge and considers the transactional problem that results because knowledge is context dependent. Moreover, in the fast moving global economy, innovation is critical for competitiveness. The chapter considers the knowledge source of innovation in the MNE. Firms must find and exploit valuable knowledge from inside and outside their organization in all the geographic markets in which the company operates. How MNEs can create knowledge-oriented cultures is discussed.Less
This chapter focuses on managing knowledge in the global organization. In the global economy, knowledge is moving around the world at a faster and faster rate. MNEs must develop their strategies by tapping into the repositories of knowledge that exist in all parts of the company. This chapter explores the nature of organizational knowledge and considers the transactional problem that results because knowledge is context dependent. Moreover, in the fast moving global economy, innovation is critical for competitiveness. The chapter considers the knowledge source of innovation in the MNE. Firms must find and exploit valuable knowledge from inside and outside their organization in all the geographic markets in which the company operates. How MNEs can create knowledge-oriented cultures is discussed.
