According to the European Commission, labour productivity will become the key driver of growth in the EU (European Commission, 2012, 2013, 2014). For the EU and for the euro area, labour input acts as a drag on growth over the projection period (2010-2060), as the working-age population is projected to decline. As a result, labour input contributes negatively to annual output growth on average over the projection period. Hence, labour productivity growth becomes the sole source for potential output growth in both the EU and the euro area starting from 2028.
The main research question underpinning this project is how the aspirations of policy makers were manifested at a micro-level and how those strategies were seen by the actors to translate into outcomes, seeking to illuminate why the productivity problem persisted in some of the observed countries. To answer this question, the project looked at methodologies of coordination between bargaining levels, as well as at best practices of productivity agreements combining work efficiency with sustainability in six EU countries: Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. Precisely, five salient dimensions of industrial relations activity that have clear productivity and performance implications were considered: (i) employee reward; (ii) workers’ participation and involvement; (iii) skills and job-classifications; (iv) work organisation; (v) inclusion and diversity. Using a case study approach the team investigated industrial relations activities relating to the four dimensions and considered how productivity was articulated. 
With the aim to turn knowledge into skills and competences, the overall results of research were transferred to workers’ and management’s representatives within a capacity building training programme.

Project duration: Apr 2016 — Oct 2017

Partners:
ADAPT (it) - coordinator
University of Amsterdam - AIAS
IAT
UAB
Institute of Public Affairs
University of Greenwich