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Employer associations in Italy: Trends and economic outcomes

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  • Bernardo Fanfani
  • Claudio Lucifora
  • Daria Vigani
Abstract
This study analyses the representativeness of employer associations in Italy, using unique firm‐level data with information on employers' affiliation and their characteristics. We document that a persistent decline in affiliation rates to employers' associations has occurred during the last two decades. We show that affiliated companies are positively selected, as they tend to be larger, older, more likely to be located in richer regions, to be export and innovation oriented, and more likely to provide training. Using longitudinal data and regression decomposition techniques, we show that larger firms have been more affected by the decline in affiliation rates over time. Finally, we show that the level of representativeness of employers' associations has a weak positive effect on collective bargaining occupational wage minima settled by these organizations in national industry‐wide collective contracts after a negotiation process with trade unions.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernardo Fanfani & Claudio Lucifora & Daria Vigani, 2024. "Employer associations in Italy: Trends and economic outcomes," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 206-232, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:62:y:2024:i:2:p:206-232
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12735
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    3. Kevin Pineda‐Hernández & François Rycx & Mélanie Volral, 2022. "How collective bargaining shapes poverty: New evidence for developed countries," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(4), pages 895-928, December.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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