Abstract
A review of 1939-56 wage developments and policies shows the willingness of trade unions to exercise self-restraint. Inflationary pressures, however, caused an uncontrollable and distorting "wage drift." Wage-price ex plosions resulted: repeatedly it appeared necessary to reshape the wage structure on the basis of rank-and-file psychology and market developments as well as long-term principles ("solidaristic wage policy"). At times centralized master agreements were used. All this is the background of a recurrent discussion as to how to solve the dilemma of wage policy in full employment without de stroying the self-determination of the organizations. The institutional back ground is shown by implication.—Ed.
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