Employment Relations under Coalition Government in Perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines the UK coalition government’s neo-liberal emphasis on deregulation and austerity in comparative perspective. When it comes to interpreting change in employment relations, the UK’s position as a financialized, liberal market economy in the global capitalist system needs to be recognized. The experience of the UK under the coalition also points to the importance of appreciating the complexity of the regulatory environment in employment relations. While in policy terms the coalition government pursued a largely neo-liberal, deregulatory agenda, there were countervailing pressures, including those that emanated from the more social-democratic policies pursued by devolved administrations outside of England.