Trade union density and unemployment insurance in Finland

Jokivuori, Pertti

doi:10.1177/102425890601200108

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…As these payments only partly cover the quite generous benefits, the state finances the lion’s share through taxes. However, Denmark is the only country with a completely voluntary scheme, while the Finnish and Swedish systems include a basic flat-rate benefit not requiring fund membership (Jokivuori, 2006; Kjellberg, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As these payments only partly cover the quite generous benefits, the state finances the lion's share through taxes. However, Denmark is the only country with a completely voluntary scheme, while the Finnish and Swedish systems include a basic flat-rate benefit not requiring fund membership (Jokivuori, 2006;Kjellberg, 2009). While the Ghent system is strongly associated with the Nordic region and cherished by the unions and social democratic parties, the system can be seen as an anomaly within the Nordic social democratic welfare states (Esping- Andersen, 1990), as it has characteristics befitting a liberal rather than a social democratic regime -risks are pooled only within occupational groups/ unions, while the state subsidies can be regarded as a sort of a 'help to self-help' (Goul Andersen, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Ghent system in transition: unions’ evolving role in Sweden’s multi-pillar unemployment benefit system

Lindellee

Berglund

2022

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research

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This article discusses the multi-faceted and changing role played by trade unions in providing unemployment benefits in Sweden, a country using the so-called Ghent system. As an important institutional feature explaining the high rate of unionisation in the Nordics, the system has been much debated. This article provides a comprehensive account of the retrenchment of the state unemployment benefit system (UBS) and the development of occupational and private UBS pillars providing complementary protection. It also introduces an ongoing reform discussion where the social partners are proposed to govern the unemployment insurance system via collective agreements, while retaining the union-linked insurance funds. The core institutional feature of the Ghent system – voluntary membership of a union-linked insurance fund – is turning out to be highly resilient despite frequent attempts to weaken the union power stemming from it. However, the system’s role in providing unemployment protection has changed due to its development into a multi-pillar structure, meaning that its future prospects are uncertain.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ghent system in transition: unions’ evolving role in Sweden’s multi-pillar unemployment benefit system

Lindellee

Berglund

2022

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research

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“…Young Danish workers who do not join any fund have voiced scepticism about the role of the funds and their links to trade unions (Jørgensen, 2006). In Finland, where trade unions have been known to endorse left-leaning politicians publicly, some see the non-party political image of YTK as part of its appeal (Jokivuori, 2006). For Sweden, however, Kjellberg (2006) claims that ideological motives are far less important than financial motives for direct affiliation.…”

Section: Union-linked Insurance Funds In the Nordic Ghent Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ghent revisited: Unemployment insurance and union membership in Belgium and the Nordic countries

Rie

Marx

Horemans

2011

European Journal of Industrial Relations

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The exceptionally high union density rates in Denmark, Finland and Sweden are attributed to a particular form of voluntary unemployment insurance, known as the Ghent system. Heavily subsidized by the state and administered by union funds, it strongly motivates workers to become union members. Belgium has a partial Ghent system: while unemployment insurance is compulsory, trade unions retain an important role in the provision of benefits. Belgian union density is at an intermediate level; but as in other Ghent countries, its level is currently higher than in the 1970s. This article argues that the Belgian institutional set-up provides stronger incentives for manual workers in industry with lower educational attainment and a past unemployment record. In Denmark, Finland and Sweden, the Ghent system recruits workers across different occupations and educational levels. However, its appeal seems to have lessened over recent years, particularly among younger workers.

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“…Nowadays, union-managed unemployment insurance (UI) schemes are under pressure in Denmark, Finland and Sweden (Jokivuori 2006;Lind 2006Lind , 2004Böckerman and Uusitalo 2006;Pehkonen and Tanninen 1997). These countries have recently seen the emergence of independent unemployment funds that provide UI without requiring union membership.…”

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confidence: 99%

A report from the homeland of the Ghent system: the relationship between unemployment and trade union membership in Belgium

Vandaele

2006

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research

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Introduction: is Belgium a 'Ghent country'?Belgium is one of the few post-industrialised countries in which more than half of the dependent labour force is a trade union member. Net union density even slightly increased from 53.9% in 1990 to 55.4% in 200255.4% in (Visser 2006. Union density is higher only in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. These Scandinavian countries have in common the presence of a so-called 'Ghent system'. 1 A Ghent system can be defined as state-subsidised, but voluntary unemployment insurance administered by unions. Such union-run unemployment funds were first successful in the Belgian city of Ghent. 2Transfer 4/06 647A report from the homeland of the Ghent system: the relationship between unemployment and trade union membership in Belgium 1 Norway abolished the Ghent system in 1938. 2 'Gent' in Dutch and German or 'Gand' in French. Special focus on the Ghent system News and background News and backgroundTransfer 4/06 648 Special focus on the Ghent system3 As an alternative form of public intervention on unemployment, the so-called 'Liège system' directly supplied grants to the union unemployment funds in 1897. The provincial government had the explicit purpose of stimulating the unions involved in UI. This socialist initiative was unsuccessful because Catholics and liberals favoured the Ghent system whose basic principles were more in line with their respective ideologies. News and backgroundTransfer 4/06 649 Special focus on the Ghent system 4 According to the employers, unemployment benefit was too high, and, as a result, a wage-deflationary policy was obstructed.

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Trade union density and unemployment insurance in Finland

Abstract: Programme Manager of the research programme Social Capital and Networks of Trust (SoCa) of the Academy of Finland News and backgroundThe Swedish unemployment insurancewill the Ghent system survive?

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

The Ghent system in transition: unions’ evolving role in Sweden’s multi-pillar unemployment benefit system

The Ghent system in transition: unions’ evolving role in Sweden’s multi-pillar unemployment benefit system

Ghent revisited: Unemployment insurance and union membership in Belgium and the Nordic countries

A report from the homeland of the Ghent system: the relationship between unemployment and trade union membership in Belgium

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