Ochronna czy partycypacyjna funkcja związków zawodowych i ich wpływ na poziom nierówności dochodowych w wybranych krajach Unii Europejskiej
Protective or participative function of labor unions and their influence on income inequality in selected European Union countries

Summary/Abstract: Taking into account that income inequality has negative impact on societies, this paper tries todiscover factors that may influence reduction of the inequality. It seems reasonable to consider laborunions as social organizations that in their cations should fight for better equality. In 21 countriesboth OECD and EU6 members 3 factors were examined. Two describing labor union protectivefunction (labor market protection and permanent contracts) and one describing participation function exercised in the countries by unions. Correlation has been checked between Gini Index andlabor market protection level, percent permanent contract and EPI 2.0 index. The analyses has beenperformed for all 21 countries and separately for the 16 representing the “old union”7. Presentedresults suggest strong correlation between Gini and EPI 2.0 suggesting that the better, stronger employeeparticipation the lower income inequality. At the same time no correlation has been foundbetween Gini and indexes describing labor union protective function.

• Details
• Contents