Hayek vs. Hayek: a defence of moderate trade union activity
Explorations in Austrian Economics
ISBN: 978-1-84855-330-9, eISBN: 978-1-84855-331-6
Publication date: 12 November 2008
Abstract
According to Friedrich A. von Hayek, trade unions are the primary problem of our times. They coerce employers into raising the wages, and they seek privileges in the political sphere. This harsh judgement is, however, not fully justified by Hayek's own theory of action and order. In addition to some terminological difficulties, he undervalues his insights – developed and applied elsewhere – of competition as a discovery process and of locally available knowledge when it comes to unions. Following this lead, further functions of trade unions apart from their monopoly face appear: trade unions channel information and develop rules for conflict resolution; they are part of a process of preference formulation and opinion formation.
Citation
Niechoj, T. (2008), "Hayek vs. Hayek: a defence of moderate trade union activity", Koppl, R. (Ed.) Explorations in Austrian Economics (Advances in Austrian Economics, Vol. 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 123-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1529-2134(08)11007-9
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited