EUROPE OF THE REGIONS AND THE FUTURE OF NATIONAL SYSTEMS OF INDUSTRIAL-RELATIONS

A popular argument is that deeper European integration along with move s towards productive decentralization will recast existing governance structures for the labour market. In particular, it is suggested that national industrial relations systems may gradually give way to region al employment systems. This paper takes a critical look at this thesis . After outlining in detail the influences that may cause the nation-s tate to wither as a site for economic management, the paper assesses w hether the institutional and economic conditions exist for the emergen ce of regional forms of industrial relations. The conclusion is that m any of the conditions are not in place and as a result any precipitate shift away from present national arrangements could lead to considera ble fragmentation and distortions.