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The SPD’s reforms of the early 2000s show why liberalising labour markets can be electorally beneficial for centre-left parties.

Lunz, Patrick (2013) The SPD’s reforms of the early 2000s show why liberalising labour markets can be electorally beneficial for centre-left parties. LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) Blog (02 Aug 2013). Website.

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Abstract

Why do centre-left parties liberalise labour markets against the interests of their traditional worker constituencies? Using the case of the SPD in Germany, Patrick Lunz puts forward an explanation focused on a party’s electoral position. He notes that the alignment of the German party system ensured the SPD would face only weak competition from parties to their left, while long-term trends indicated that citizens were becoming more accepting of a reduction in the generosity of the German welfare state. While it might have appeared counter-intuitive, the social democratic government therefore liberalised labour markets to protect their long-term electoral interests.

Item Type: Online resource (Website)
Official URL: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/
Additional Information: © 2013 The Author(s)
Divisions: LSE
Subjects: J Political Science > JC Political theory
J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe)
Date Deposited: 05 Apr 2017 08:39
Last Modified: 13 Sep 2024 18:45
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/72477

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