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National institutions and employers' age management practices in Britain and Germany: 'Path dependence' and option exploration

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Matt Flynn

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Abstract

We pursue a comparative analysis of employers' age management practices in Britain and Germany, asking how valid 'convergence' and 'Varieties of Capitalism' theories are. After rejecting the convergence verdict, we proceed to ask how far 'path dependence' helps explain inter-country differences. Through 19 interviews with British and German experts, we find that firms have reacted in different ways to promptings from the EU and the two states. Change has been modest and a rhetoric-reality gap exists in firms as they seek to hedge. We point to continuities in German institutional methods of developing new initiatives, and the emerging role of British NGOs in helping firms and the state develop new options. We argue that 'path dependence' offers insight into the national comparison, but also advance the idea of national modes of firm option-exploration as an important way of conceptualizing the processes involved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Muller-Camen M, Croucher R, Flynn M, Schroder H

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Human Relations

Year: 2011

Volume: 64

Issue: 4

Pages: 507-530

Print publication date: 08/03/2011

ISSN (print): 0018-7267

ISSN (electronic): 1741-282X

Publisher: Sage

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018726710396246

DOI: 10.1177/0018726710396246


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