Fifteen Trade union expertise in public policy
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Sophie Béroud
Abstract
French unions do not constitute places of a high expertise in public policies today despite the fact that they are members of a number of joint or tripartite institutions (such as economic, social and environmental national Council) responsible for producing diagnostics and recommendations in the social field. If, in the decades 1970-1980, proposals and diagnostics carried especially by the CFDT have influenced the definition of specific policies in the world of work (for example the Auroux laws, but also the Roudy law about wage equality) or social policies, the trade union’s ability to act like a critical actor appears now much reduced. The chapter first seeks to explain this relative weakness, in relationship with several factors (links with universities, research organizations, etc.). Second, it examines those specific areas in which trade union’s expertise exists and has some influence in the definition of public action (educational and industrial policies,). Drawing from an original dataset, this chapter reflects on the forms taken by the unions’ public policy expertise and the influence it can exert.
Abstract
French unions do not constitute places of a high expertise in public policies today despite the fact that they are members of a number of joint or tripartite institutions (such as economic, social and environmental national Council) responsible for producing diagnostics and recommendations in the social field. If, in the decades 1970-1980, proposals and diagnostics carried especially by the CFDT have influenced the definition of specific policies in the world of work (for example the Auroux laws, but also the Roudy law about wage equality) or social policies, the trade union’s ability to act like a critical actor appears now much reduced. The chapter first seeks to explain this relative weakness, in relationship with several factors (links with universities, research organizations, etc.). Second, it examines those specific areas in which trade union’s expertise exists and has some influence in the definition of public action (educational and industrial policies,). Drawing from an original dataset, this chapter reflects on the forms taken by the unions’ public policy expertise and the influence it can exert.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiii
- Policy analysis in France: introduction 1
-
The styles and methods of public policy analysis
- On the path to public policy analysis: an ‘administrative science’ between reform and academy 31
- The emergence of modern policy analysis in France 47
- Recent developments within French policy studies 63
- Methods of French policy studies 79
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Policy analysis by governments
- Civil servants and policy analysis in central government 101
- Policy analysis in French local government 119
- Beyond weakness: policy analysis in the French parliament 137
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Committees, public inquiries, and consultants
- Public inquiries, committees 157
- Management consultants as policy actors 175
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Parties, interest groups, research institutes and think tanks
- The field of state expertise 191
- Political parties and think tanks: policy analysis oriented toward office-seeking 209
- Economic interest groups and policy analysis in France 225
- NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment 243
- Trade union expertise in public policy 261
-
Academic policy analysis
- Economics and policy analysis: ‘from state to market’? 279
- The academic world of French policy studies: training, teaching and researching 295
- Public policy analysis in France: from public action to political power 313
- Index 333
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiii
- Policy analysis in France: introduction 1
-
The styles and methods of public policy analysis
- On the path to public policy analysis: an ‘administrative science’ between reform and academy 31
- The emergence of modern policy analysis in France 47
- Recent developments within French policy studies 63
- Methods of French policy studies 79
-
Policy analysis by governments
- Civil servants and policy analysis in central government 101
- Policy analysis in French local government 119
- Beyond weakness: policy analysis in the French parliament 137
-
Committees, public inquiries, and consultants
- Public inquiries, committees 157
- Management consultants as policy actors 175
-
Parties, interest groups, research institutes and think tanks
- The field of state expertise 191
- Political parties and think tanks: policy analysis oriented toward office-seeking 209
- Economic interest groups and policy analysis in France 225
- NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment 243
- Trade union expertise in public policy 261
-
Academic policy analysis
- Economics and policy analysis: ‘from state to market’? 279
- The academic world of French policy studies: training, teaching and researching 295
- Public policy analysis in France: from public action to political power 313
- Index 333
