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Abstract

This article analyses labour market flexibility in the Central and Eastern European countries (the CEECs). An empirical approach is taken that concentrates on macro level issues including labour protection, labour market policy and the role of trade unions in wage setting. The authors conclude that labour relations are not less strictly regulated in the CEECs than in the EU countries. Expenditure on labour market policy is relatively low in most CEECs. Decreases in wages, and especially decreases in nominal wages, indicate the flexibility of wages in the CEECs and the minor role played by the unions in the wage-bargaining process.

Cet article analyse la flexibilité du marché du travail dans les Pays de l'Europe Centrale et Orientale (PECO) par une approche empirique. Celle-ci examine des questions macroéconomiques comme la protection du travail, la politique du marché du travail et le rôle des syndicats dans la fixation des salaires. Les auteurs concluent que les relations professionnelles ne sont pas moins strictement réglementées dans les PECO que dans les pays de l'UE. Les dépenses allouées à la politique du marché du travail sont relativement basses dans la plupart des PECO. Les diminutions de salaires, et en particulier les réductions des salaires nominaux, indiquent la flexibilité des salaires dans les PECO et le rôle mineur joué par les syndicats dans le processus de négociation salariale.

In diesem Artikel wird die Flexibilität der Arbeitsmärkte der mittel- und osteuropäischen Länder (MOEL) analysiert. Gestützt auf einen empirischen Ansatz befassen sich die Autoren mit gesamtwirtschaftlichen Fragen wie Arbeitsschutz, Arbeitsmarktpolitik und Rolle der Gewerkschaften bei der Lohngestaltung. Sie ziehen den Schluss, dass die Arbeitsbeziehungen in den MOEL nicht weniger strikt geregelt sind als in den Ländern der EU. Die Ausgaben für arbeitsmarktpolitische Maßnahmen sind in den meisten MOEL vergleichsweise gering. Sinkende Löhne und besonders sinkende Nominallöhne deuten auf die Flexibilität der Löhne in den MOEL hin und zeigen, dass die Gewerkschaften nur eine unbedeutende Rolle bei den Lohnverhandlungen spielen.

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How flexible are labour markets in the CEECs? A macro level approach

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