Abstract
Is there an alternative to wage- and benefit-cutting in the face of the heightened competitive pressure created by globalization? This paper explores the possibility that even in a more globalized economy, there may be alternative paths to successful performance in the international economy--a “low road” that emphasizes cost-cutting, conflictual labor relations and a narrow set of social programs, and a “high road” that requires rapid productivity growth and innovation based on cooperative labor relations and generally stronger and more centralized labor unions, high quality production and higher wages, as well as greater state-supported social protection
You may also like
NOV 10, 2026 • Video
Getting China Right: The Ultimate Moral Dilemma
How can the U.S. avoid miscalculating when it comes to China? Access the Third Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Annual Lecture with Robert D. Kaplan.
NOV 6, 2026 • Podcast
Moral Courage, Individual Agency, and Institutional Trust
Former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa joins “Values & Interests” to discuss the ethical challenges facing public servants in an era of eroding institutional norms.
NOV 3, 2026 • Video
Carnegie Ethics Fellows Symposium 2026
Access expert panels on water ethics, AI in healthcare, economic and national security, and AI in humanitarian response, moderated by the Carnegie Ethics Fellows.