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Labor relations

The field of labor relations looks at the relationship between management and groups of workers represented by a labor union.

Labor relations is an important factor in analyzing "varieties of capitalism", such as neocorporatism (or corporatism), social democracy, and neoliberalism (or liberalism).

Labor relations can take place on many levels, such as the "shop-floor", the regional level, and the national level. The distribution of power amongst these levels can greatly shape the way an economy functions.

Another key question when considering systems of labor relations is their ability to adapt to change. This change can be technological (e.g., "What do we do when an industry employing half the population becomes obsolete?"), economic (e.g., "How do we respond to globalization?"), or political (e.g., "How dependent is the system on a certain party or coalition holding power?").

Related Topics

• wage drift and wage differentiation, especially with regard to skilled versus unskilled workers.
• inflation
• unemployment
• globalization
• specialization
• service sector versus manufacturing sector

Also see

• National Labor Relations Board
• National Labor Relations Act