Honors Theses
Date of Award
2008
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Croft Institute for International Studies
First Advisor
Alice Cooper
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The political system of Germany is oftentimes characterized by incremental developments which shy away from major, controversial reform. This is especially true for economic reforms centered around the German labor market. However, despite this incremental system a series of controversial and comprehensive reforms of the German labor market, collectively known as the Hartz reforms, were successfully implemented in 2004. This is especially peculiar when the failed Alliance for Jobs, an attempt at similar reforms in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s, is taken into consideration. This thesis will explore how the Hartz reforms were passed in this incremental system by comparing its success with the rather typical failure of the Alliance for Jobs reforms. In order to accomplish this goal, this thesis will rely heavily on texts concerning the German policymaking process and its resistance toward major economic reform in order to establish a frame of reference. Once a basic understanding of the policymaking process is obtained, this work will then chiefly utilize political science journals and periodicals to specify the nature of the policies, the people and groups involved in their respective processes, and their respective outcomes. As we will see, the Hartz reforms succeeded where the Alliance for Jobs reforms failed. The heavy influence of labor interests, cabinet ministries, and opposition within the German Chancellor’s own party on the nature of the Alliance reforms made any semblance of consensus impossible. By avoiding these obstacles through efficient, commission-derived policies and well timed implementation, the Hartz reforms were able to come to fruition in a system which would normally never allow for legislation of their nature to pass.
Recommended Citation
Lynch, Robert Russell, "The Hartz Commission vs. the Alliance for Jobs: A Study in German Labor Market Reform" (2008). Honors Theses. 2372.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2372
Accessibility Status
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