The Impact of German Works Councils on Profitability and Innovation: New Evidence from Micro Data / Der Einfluß von Betriebsräten auf Profitabilität und Produktinnovationen: Neue Untersuchungsergebnisse auf der Basis von Betriebsdaten

1997 ◽  
Vol 216 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Addison ◽  
Joachim Wagner
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Outcome Indicators ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Works Council ◽  
The Impact ◽  
New Evidence

SummaryThis paper presents new evidence of works council impact on two dimensions of firm performance, namely, relative profitability as assessed by top management, and innovative activity as measured by new product development. The extant German literature is reviewed en passant, and some care is also taken to differentiate between the theoretical arguments that have been used to support greater worker involvement in their companies. Consistent with previous research findings based on different data sets, no support is adduced for the proposition that works councils favorably influence the outcome indicators. That being said, it is argued that further progress in the economic analysis of the works council awaits the availability of large-scale panel data, in the absence of which considerable ambiguity will perforce continue to attach all estimates of works council impact, including those reported here.

scholarly journals Works Councils, Labor Productivity and Plant Heterogeneity: First Evidence from Quantile Regressions

2006 ◽  
Vol 226 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Wagner ◽  
Thorsten Schank ◽  
Claus Schnabel ◽  
John T. Addison
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Section Data ◽  
Works Council ◽  
The Impact

SummaryUsing OLS and quantile regression methods and rich cross-section data sets for western and eastern Germany, this paper demonstrates that the impact of works council presence on labor productivity varies between manufacturing and services, between plants that are or are not covered by collective bargaining, and along the conditional distribution of labor productivity. No productivity effects of works councils are found for the service sector and in manufacturing plants not covered by collective bargaining. Besides demonstrating that it is important to look at evidence based on more than one data set, our empirical findings point to the efficacy of supplementing OLS with quantile regression estimates when investigating the behavior of heterogeneous plants.

scholarly journals The Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) sounding network: operations, processing and analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 421-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Jensen ◽  
T. Toto ◽  
D. Troyan ◽  
P. E. Ciesielski ◽  
D. Holdridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Central Plains ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Quality Checks ◽  
Network Operations ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) took place during the spring of 2011 centered in north-central Oklahoma, USA. The main goal of this field campaign was to capture the dynamical and microphysical characteristics of precipitating convective systems in the US Central Plains. A major component of the campaign was a six-site radiosonde array designed to capture the large-scale variability of the atmospheric state with the intent of deriving model forcing data sets. Over the course of the 46-day MC3E campaign, a total of 1362 radiosondes were launched from the enhanced sonde network. This manuscript provides details on the instrumentation used as part of the sounding array, the data processing activities including quality checks and humidity bias corrections and an analysis of the impacts of bias correction and algorithm assumptions on the determination of convective levels and indices. It is found that corrections for known radiosonde humidity biases and assumptions regarding the characteristics of the surface convective parcel result in significant differences in the derived values of convective levels and indices in many soundings. In addition, the impact of including the humidity corrections and quality controls on the thermodynamic profiles that are used in the derivation of a large-scale model forcing data set are investigated. The results show a significant impact on the derived large-scale vertical velocity field illustrating the importance of addressing these humidity biases.

scholarly journals Six years of total ozone column measurements from SCIAMACHY nadir observations

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lerot ◽  
M. Van Roozendael ◽  
J. van Geffen ◽  
J. van Gent ◽  
C. Fayt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Total Ozone ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ozone Data ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
German Aerospace ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Total O3 columns have been retrieved from six years of SCIAMACHY nadir UV radiance measurements using SDOAS, an adaptation of the GDOAS algorithm previously developed at BIRA-IASB for the GOME instrument. GDOAS and SDOAS have been implemented by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the version 4 of the GOME Data Processor (GDP) and in version 3 of the SCIAMACHY Ground Processor (SGP), respectively. The processors are being run at the DLR processing centre on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). We first focus on the description of the SDOAS algorithm with particular attention to the impact of uncertainties on the reference O3 absorption cross-sections. Second, the resulting SCIAMACHY total ozone data set is globally evaluated through large-scale comparisons with results from GOME and OMI as well as with ground-based correlative measurements. The various total ozone data sets are found to agree within 2% on average. However, a negative trend of 0.2–0.4%/year has been identified in the SCIAMACHY O3 columns; this probably originates from instrumental degradation effects that have not yet been fully characterized.

scholarly journals Works councils and performance appraisals

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-50
Author(s):  
Christian Grund ◽  
Dirk Sliwka ◽  
Krystina Titz
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Performance Appraisals ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Bonus Payments ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Works Council ◽  
The Individual

PurposeWe analyze the role of works councils for the use of performance appraisals (PA). We distinguish between the incidence of PA systems as intended by the firm and their actual implementation on the level of the individual employee.Design/methodology/approachWe draw on two complementary data sets. These are the German Linked Personnel Panel (LPP), which combines firm-based information with information provided by several of those employees, and the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), which is a representative longitudinal study of persons living in Germany.FindingsWe find that works councils tend to promote rather than restrict PA. Employees working in establishments with a works council are more likely to face a formal PA procedure. Works councils also act as a transmission institution for the actual use of an existing PA system – i.e. among the firms that claim to implement PA for all their employees, the likelihood of their employees actually having regular appraisals is substantially larger when works councils are in place. Moreover, the existence of works councils is positively related particularly to PA systems, which affects bonus payments.Research limitations/implicationsWe contribute to the understanding of the work of works councils in firms. In more general, we shed light to the relation of industrial relations and human resource management in firms.Practical implicationsThis result hints at a higher acceptance of PA systems in firms with works councils. It seems likely that the stronger formalization of such systems necessitated by codetermination laws increases the likelihood of supervisors consistently carrying out such appraisals.Originality/valueWe are the first who complement the analysis of the existence of HR practices (PA system) with its actual use for employees.

Computational framework for discontinuity network characterization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Poulet ◽  
Ulrich Kelka ◽  
Stefan Westerlund ◽  
Luk Peeters
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Fracture Networks ◽  
Underlying Distribution ◽  
Network Characterization ◽  
Discontinuity Network ◽  
The Impact

<p>The topological and geometrical description of fault and fracture networks is an essential first step in any investigation of fractured or faulted media. The spatial arrangement, density, connectivity, and geometry of the discontinuities strongly impact the physical properties of the media such as resilience and permeability. Obtaining reliable metrics for characterizing fault and fracture networks is of interest for mining engineering, reservoir characterization, groundwater management, and studies on the regional fluid flow history. During large-scale studies, we mostly rely on two-dimensional lineaments obtained through structural mapping, outcrop analysis, or remote sensing. An efficient and widely applicable framework for discontinuity network characterization should therefore be based on the analysis of the frequently available two-dimensional data sets.</p><p>Here, we present an automated framework for efficient and robust characterization of the geometric and topologic parameters of discontinuity networks. The geometry of the lineaments is characterised based on orientation, length, and sinuosity. The underlying distribution of these parameters are determined, and representative probability density functions are reported. The connection between the geometric parameters is validated, e.g. correlation between orientation and length. The spatial arrangement is determined by classical line- and window-sampling, by assessing the fractal dimension, and via graph-based topology analysis.</p><p>In addition to the statistical analysis of lineament networks, we show how the graph data structure can be utilized for further characterization by linking it to raster data such as magnetic, gravimetric, or elevation. This procedure not only yields an additional means for lineament characterization but also allows users to assess dominant pathways based, for instance, on hydraulic gradients. We demonstrate the applicability of our algorithm on synthetic data sets and real-world case studies on mapped fault and fracture networks.</p><p>We finally show how our framework can also be utilized to design detailed numerical studies on the fluid flow properties of analysed networks by conditioning mesh refinement on the type and number of intersections. In addition, due to known scaling relationships our framework can help to determine appropriate parameters for the simulations. We provide examples of statistically parametrized fluid flow simulations in natural discontinuity networks and show the impact of conceptualizing the lineaments as conduits, barriers or conduit-barrier systems.</p>

Betriebsräte und Arbeitszufriedenheit / Works Councils and Job Satisfaction

2006 ◽  
Vol 226 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Jirjahn ◽  
Georgi Tsertsvadze
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
White Collar Workers ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Works Council ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

SummaryEmpirical studies on establishment-level codetermination usually focus on the impact of works councils on firm performance. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, this is the first systematic research to examine the relationship between works councils and job satisfaction. It is shown that the relationship depends on the type of worker. The presence of a works council increases job satisfaction of full-time employed blue-collar workers. In general, councils do not have an influence on full-time employed white-collar workers. However, there is a negative association between works council presence and job satisfaction of managers. Furthermore, the presence of a workers council is associated with lower job satisfaction of non-full-time workers.

scholarly journals Worker representation and temporary employment in Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-46
Author(s):  
John T. Addison ◽  
Paulino Teixeira ◽  
Philipp Grunau ◽  
Lutz Bellmann
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Temporary Employment ◽  
Temporary Work ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Shrinking Core ◽  
Labor Institutions ◽  
Works Council ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of key labor institutions on the occurrence and extent of temporary employment. Design/methodology/approach In a new departure, this study uses a zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model given that most establishments are non-users of either fixed-term contracts (FTCs) or temporary agency workers. Findings This study examines the potential impact of works councils and unions on the use and intensity of use of FTCs and temporary agency work. There is a little indication that these variables are correlated with the use/non-use of either type of temporary work, especially in the case of FTCs. Collective bargaining displays different relationships with their intensity of use: a negative association for sectoral bargaining and FTCs and the converse for firm-level bargaining and agency temps. Of more interest, however, is the covariation between the number of temporary employees and the interaction between works councils and product market volatility. The intensity of use of agency temps (FTCs) is predicted to rise (fall) as volatility increases whenever a works council is present. These disparities require further investigation but most likely reflect differences in function, with agency work being more directed toward the protection of an arguably shrinking core and fixed-term contacts encountering resistance to their increased use as a buffer stock. The two types of temporary employment are seemingly non-complementary, an interpretation that receives support from the study’s further analysis of FTC flow data. Research limitations/implications The non-complementarity of the two types of contract is the hallmark of this paper. Originality/value The first study to deploy a ZINB model to examine both the occurrence and incidence of temporary work.

scholarly journals Corruption and the impact of law enforcement: insights from a mixed-methods study in Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-336
Author(s):  
Gerhard Anders ◽  
Fidelis E. Kanyongolo ◽  
Brigitte Seim
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Challenging Environment ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Scholarly Attention

ABSTRACTThe article argues that the impact of law enforcement efforts against corruption deserves more scholarly attention. Drawing on a mixed-methods study from Malawi in southern Africa, where a large-scale law enforcement operation has been investigating and prosecuting those involved in a 2013 corruption scandal known as ‘Cashgate’, the article explores the potential for corruption deterrence from the perspective of government officials in the Malawi civil service. Malawi provides a challenging environment for deterrence due to limited state capacity, weak law enforcement agencies and widespread corruption. Nonetheless, the research findings show that Malawian government officials perceive prosecutions and convictions to deter corruption, both with regards to the law enforcement response to Cashgate specifically and law enforcement efforts in general. The findings from Malawi suggest that law enforcement and criminal justice have the potential to make an important contribution to anti-corruption strategies in Africa and the Global South at large.

scholarly journals Supervisory board and works council in the Netherlands opportunities for the works council to influence the composition of the board: Context, conditions and effects

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 46-60
Author(s):  
Rienk Goodijk
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Board Member ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Supervisory Board ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Strategic Position ◽  
Works Council ◽  
Corporate Level

In this paper, we present our first research findings on the opportunities for works councils and their practices to influence the supervisory board member(s) election under the ‘old’ co-option system. When and under which conditions works councils are really using their right to propose supervisory board candidates and what kind of effects could be expected from that? The conceptual framework for our research work is presented next, finally followed by a description of the first research findings. The research findings to date, reveal what sort of conditions and factors have a stimulating impact on the works councils’ behaviour to use the formal right to propose supervisory board candidates, to influence the composition of the supervisory board and to build up a relationship with that board. The research also shows the perceived effects of proposing candidates. The findings confirm the expectation that the attitude of the parties involved is very dominant and that works councils which are really striving for a better strategic position at the corporate level, are more actively involved than other works councils.

Verbreitung von Betriebsräten und ihr Einfluss auf die betriebliche Weiterbildung / Works Council Presence and Impact on Training of the Workforce

2006 ◽  
Vol 226 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz Bellmann ◽  
Peter Ellguth
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Matching Methods ◽  
Betriebliche Weiterbildung ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Works Council ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Waves

SummaryWith the reform of the Works Constitution Act in 2001 legislation has tried to stop the erosion of the institution of codetermination by facilating the creation of works councils and expanding their rights. The present paper examines the development of the presence of codetermination with pooled regression models and the impact of works councils on the training of the workforce with matching methods. We used data from the waves 1996-2005 of the IAB Establsihment Panel. The results of our analyses show that establishments with works councils have both a higher incidence and coverage of training of the workforce. However, a significant effect of the reform of the Works Constitution Act cannot be detected empirically.

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