The social policy preferences of EU employers’ organizations: An exploratory analysis

Igor Guardiancich, Andrea Terlizzi and David Natali

European Journal of Industrial Relations, 2023, vol. 29, issue 3, 243-269

Abstract: Despite decades of European social dialogue, little is known about the social policy preferences of EU employers’ organizations (EEOs). Building on the literature on industrial relations and the role of business in welfare state development, this article explores the preferences of key EEOs (BusinessEurope, SGI Europe and SMEunited) in vocational education and training (VET), active and passive labour market policies, pensions and work–family reconciliation. Software-based qualitative content analysis of 75 position papers and 19 joint declarations, triangulated with four elite semi-structured interviews, is employed to assess employers’ preferences along four national and two European dimensions. Largely in line with the power resources theory, EEOs favour cost containment and social investment, by strengthening labour market flexicurity and reducing skills mismatches through VET. Conflicting logics of membership and influence guide the actions of EEOs: members are wary of legislation impinging on national social policy traditions; yet, greater European assertiveness makes lobbying efforts unavoidable.

Keywords: European social dialogue; employers’ organizations; preference formation; business and welfare; social policy; lobbying (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:eurjou:v:29:y:2023:i:3:p:243-269

DOI: 10.1177/09596801231153928

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