EUROPE OF THE REGIONS AND THE FUTURE OF NATIONAL SYSTEMS OF INDUSTRIAL-RELATIONS

A popular argument is that deeper European integration along with moves towards productive decentralization will recast existing governance structures for the labour market. In particular, it is suggested that national industrial relations systems may gradually give way to regional employment systems. This paper takes a critical look at this thesis. After outlining in detail the influences that may cause the nation-state to wither as a site for economic management, the paper assesses whether the institutional and economic conditions exist for the emergence of regional forms of industrial relations. The conclusion is that many of the conditions are not in place and as a result any precipitate shift away from present national arrangements could lead to considerable fragmentation and distortions.