Ireland has tried both soft and hard corporatism in the last 25
years. In the first experiment which lasted for about 10 years until
the early 1980s there is little evidence of success. Since 1987
more comprehensive type of social partnership agreements covering
specific increases for wages as well as tax and public expenditure
policies have been a critical factor in the irish economy in the last
ten years (see the article by Rory O'Donnell and Colm O'Reardon in
the New Economy in 1996).
I also think it is worth noting that successful corporatist
agreements were introduced in both Ireland and the Netherlands at
times of major economic crises. A momentum has developed in both
countries since their introduction which makes it much more difficult
for a reversion to free collective bargaining.
Brendan Kennelly
WORC,
Tilburg University
The Netherlands
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