Comparative Employment Relations
Module Convenor: Prof John Kelly
Module Lecturers: Prof John Kelly and Dr Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick
Assessment: Assessment is by two hour exam (75%) and a 2500 word written assignment (25%) – the deadline is 22nd November 2011. The Absolute Cut-Off deadline is the 13th December 2011.
Aims
- To introduce students to theory and methods in the comparative analysis of employment relations.
- To provide them with a strong knowledge base on employment relations in a number of countries.
- To help them think critically about contemporary issues in employment relations.
- To help them take views about policy issues informed by the latest research.
Learning objectives
On successful completion of this module a student will be expected to be able to:
- Show their familiarity with issues of theory and method in the comparative analysis of employment relations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of employment relations in a number of countries.
- Think critically about contemporary issues in employment relations.
- Take views about policy issues informed by the latest research.
Content
- Introduction to comparative theory and method
- Markets, institutions and actors
- Varieties of capitalism 1: the UK and other LMEs
- Varieties of capitalism 2: the CMEs and Japan.
- The role of the state
- Reading week
- Employers, employer associations and multi-national corporations
- Trade unions
- Collective bargaining, works councils and employee participation
- Pay, inequality and unemployment; future trends
Background reading
- Bamber, G, Lansbury, R. & Wailes, N. (eds) (2011) International and Comparative Employment Relations, 5th edition, London: Sage.
- P. Dicken (2011) Global Shift. Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy, London: Sage, 6th edition.
