Opposition of retail sales staff to shopping hours liberalization - An application of the insider-outsider theory

The classical insider-outsider theory explains involuntary unemployment by the bargaining power of insiders that prevents wages decreasing to the Leve l of the reservation wages of unemployed outsiders. Extends the traditional argument about wages to a conflict of interest between insiders and outsid ers about the schedule of working time. Argues that attempts to liberalize shopping hours often-fail because of the resistance and arguments of retail sector employees (insiders) who fear that this would cause deterioration i n their working conditions. This resistance leads to a reduction of employm ent possibilities for outsiders who would have been willing to work during fringe hours.