Corporatism and Regional Economic Policies in the Federal Republic of Germany: The “Meso” Politics of Industrial Adjustment

Abstract

This article examines corporatist theory (business, labor, government interaction) in the context of regional governments and economic policy in the Federal Republic of Germany. West German regional governments, far more than the federal government, have acted to shape industrial adjustment and enhance international competitiveness. Corporatist theory is analyzed in the context of its evolution from a macro to a meso variant, which attempts to address sector-and region-specific forms of economic dislocation. The new meso-corporatist approach is found insufficient because it looks only at private interests and neglects the regional politics of industrial adjustment. The very different “meso-political” patterns of adjustment are examined here in a synthetic review of recent research on economic policymaking in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and North-Rhine Westphalia. Meso-corporatism may still prove useful theoretically, but only if it includes the role of regional governments.