The fact that multinational companies operate (MNCs) in more than one country can be expected to lead to a weaker bargaining position for labour. However, there are hopes that these companies may, under certain circumstances, transfer good employment practices from their home countries. This...

Labour provisions in trade agreements have been criticised for minimal effectiveness in improving employment conditions. Five recent cases point to some benefits and to the lessons on when and how labour provisions can be effective. They make a difference in particular economic and political...

The economic crisis of 2008, starting from the crisis in banking in the USA in 2008, affected economic and political development in varied ways around the world. This special issue covers the impact and policy responses in the former state socialist countries of central and eastern Europe and...

This paper assesses the development of the welfare state in the post-1989 Czech Republic, showing how differences from older EU member states can be explained in terms of the heritage of the communist past. The focus is on the immediate post-1989 period which is seen as crucial for shaping the...

This Working Paper critically analyses Italy's labour market reforms of 2012 (Fornero Reform). It focuses especially on a measure to cut unemployment and labour-market dualism by reducing the protection against dismissal enjoyed by permanent employees.The main argument of this paper is that...

This paper investigates the implications of the 2008 financial crisis on welfare states and the capitalist diversity in the post-communist world, including Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It analyzes three political-economic varieties in the region: those of...

The fact that multinational companies operate (MNCs) in more than one country can be expected to lead to a weaker bargaining position for labour. However, there are hopes that these companies may, under certain circumstances, transfer good employment practices from their home countries. This...