Collective bargaining in developing countries

Negotiating work rules at the firm level instead of the industry level could lead to productivity gains

University of Kentucky, USA, and IZA, Germany

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Elevator pitch

Because theoretical arguments differ on the economic impact of collective bargaining agreements in developing countries, empirical studies are needed to provide greater clarity. Recent empirical studies for some Latin American countries have examined whether industry- or firm-level collective bargaining is more advantageous for productivity growth. Although differences in labor market institutions and in coverage of collective bargaining agreements limit the generalizability of the findings, studies suggest that work rules may raise productivity when negotiated at the firm level but may sometimes lower productivity when negotiated at the industry level.

Work rules and productivity are correlated
                        more strongly when negotiated at the firm level, Argentina

Key findings

Pros

Latin American countries that have reformed their labor institutions offer a unique opportunity to understand how changes in collective bargaining affect economic output.

The coverage and level of negotiations of collective bargaining agreements are important determinants of the association between negotiated work practices and labor productivity.

Firm-level negotiations, in general, promote productivity increases in developing countries.

In some developing countries, collective bargaining has remained fairly stable over time, with some tendency toward decentralization.

Cons

Labor market institutions, economic conditions, and collective bargaining coverage and negotiation levels vary across developing countries, making generalization difficult.

Industry-level bargaining may lower productivity by restricting managerial flexibility in response to market changes.

Weak representation of employers in collective bargaining may affect the coverage and outcome of collective bargaining.

Empirical evidence is more extensive on the effect of collective bargaining on wages than on productivity.

Author's main message

Developing countries have a long tradition of determining wages and working arrangements through industry-wide collective bargaining agreements. While the evidence on the effect of union contracts on wages is abundant, the cross-country evidence associated with the effect of work practices on productivity is limited. Several empirical studies suggest that economies benefit from productivity increases from work rules negotiated at firm level. However, collective bargaining agreements and economic conditions vary widely across developing countries restricting support for any single generalization.

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