Worker and Shareholder Protection in Six Countries: A Longitudinal Analysis

17 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2014

See all articles by Peter G. Gahan

Peter G. Gahan

University of Melbourne - Department of Management and Marketing

Ian Ramsay

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne

Michelle Anne Welsh

Monash Business School

Date Written: December 11, 2014

Abstract

In this paper the authors utilise leximetric analysis, which involves the numerical coding of the strength of formal legal protections, to document changes in the level of worker protection and shareholder protection in six countries (Australia, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States) for the period 1970-2005. Both worker and shareholder protection increased in five of the six countries and in the sixth country (Australia) shareholder protection increased and the level of worker protection in 2005 was similar to the level of protection in 1970. The results of statistical tests show that increased formal legal protection for shareholders is not obtained at the expense of formal protection for workers. Implications of this finding are explored by the authors.

Keywords: Worker protection, shareholder protection, leximetric research

Suggested Citation

Gahan, Peter G. and Ramsay, Ian and Welsh, Michelle Anne, Worker and Shareholder Protection in Six Countries: A Longitudinal Analysis (December 11, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2536708 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2536708

Peter G. Gahan

University of Melbourne - Department of Management and Marketing ( email )

5th Floor Babel Building
Melbourne, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61390359740 (Phone)
+61393494293 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.managementmarketing.unimelb.edu.au/who/staff.cfm?StaffId=241

Ian Ramsay (Contact Author)

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 5332 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/staff/ian-ramsay

Michelle Anne Welsh

Monash Business School ( email )

Wellington Road
Clayton, Victoria 3168
Australia

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