Public service employment relations in an era of austerity: The case of Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - Public service employment relations in an era of austerity

T2 - The case of Denmark

AU - Hansen, Nana Wesley

AU - Mailand, Mikkel

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - This article analyses the impact of the economic crisis on the public sector in Denmark. It first examines the overall public sector responses and presents local case studies, before offering a comparative perspective with other Nordic countries. The article concludes that responses to the crisis in Denmark mostly involve 'resetting recent reform'. The crisis has affected on job levels and employment relations, but other drivers are also important. Analysis at the local level reveals that the reduction in job levels is as much an expression of the implementation of pre-crisis reforms and demographic change as a manifestation of a direct crisis impact. The moderate impact of the crises on public sector reforms is also found in Norway, Finland and Sweden.

AB - This article analyses the impact of the economic crisis on the public sector in Denmark. It first examines the overall public sector responses and presents local case studies, before offering a comparative perspective with other Nordic countries. The article concludes that responses to the crisis in Denmark mostly involve 'resetting recent reform'. The crisis has affected on job levels and employment relations, but other drivers are also important. Analysis at the local level reveals that the reduction in job levels is as much an expression of the implementation of pre-crisis reforms and demographic change as a manifestation of a direct crisis impact. The moderate impact of the crises on public sector reforms is also found in Norway, Finland and Sweden.

U2 - 10.1177/0959680113505038

DO - 10.1177/0959680113505038

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0959-6801

VL - 19

SP - 375

EP - 389

JO - European Journal of Industrial Relations

JF - European Journal of Industrial Relations

IS - 4

ER -