Die personelle verflechtung zwischen sozialpartnern und bundesregierung in Österreich, 1945–2015

Abstract

The personal linkages between political parties and social partnership organizations are a major contributor to the stability of corporatist institutions in postwar Austria. This paper presents the most comprehensive and systematic analysis to date of individual interlocks between the Austrian government and the corporatist institutions (chambers and trade unions). Drawing on biographical information for all 242 senior and junior ministers serving between 1945 and 2015, it shows that corporatist officials are more likely to be nominated to the cabinet under grand coalitions and single-party governments. They are also more likely to serve in portfolios dealing with matters related to social or economic policy. While the degree of interlock between cabinet and social partners varies over time, the data show no general decline in recent decades.