Sectors or countries? Typologies and levels of analysis in comparative industrial relations

measurement and analysis of industrial relations aggregates: what is the relevant unit of analysis in comparative research?

“…This kind of development of industrial relations systems in different sectors within an economy was hypothesized for example by Katz and Darbishire (2000), Meardi (2004) and Bechter et al (2011aBechter et al ( , 2012. In this literature various examples and scenarios of different developments in different sectors are discussed and the causal relationships are explored.…”

“…what is the share of multiand single employer bargaining, is also analysed. Thus similar indicators of industrial relations systems as by Bechter et al (2011aBechter et al ( , 2012 are used. However, in contrast to previous 13 studies, a much larger set of sectors is considered and analysed which enables generalizable conclusions to be drawn here.…”

Beyond National Systems, Towards a ‘Gig Economy’? A Research Agenda for International and Comparative Employment Relations

“…The growth in private-service sector employment is arguably producing a transformational shift in the post-1945 'German model' of employment relations (Bechter et al 2012;Hassel 2014). More generally, this trend illustrates the extent to which sectoral issues, such as the mix of industries in a particular national economy, can influence the strategic choices of ER actors independently of nationallevel institutional arrangements.…”

“…Manufacturing employers tend to prefer CME-type arrangements, such as long-term employment relationships and skill regimes focused on the development of enterprise and industry-specific skills. In contrast, servicesector employers tend to favor general and portable skill regimes and arrangements that facilitate more 'flexible' employment relationships (see also Batt et al 2009;Bechter et al 2012;Caviedes 2010;Katz and Darbishire 2000;Wright 2017). …”

“…Sector-based logics, then, may cut across national systems, thus enabling increased diversity in ER arrangements within countries. Without discounting the influence of national systems, the role of sector-level variables -such as pay determination and skill formation arrangements, technology, the organization of production and product market regulationsshould be given greater weight as a potential influence of ER patterns (Bechter et al 2012;Katz and Darbishire 2000).…”