Agnes Akkerman | Radboud University Nijmegen (original) (raw)

Papers by Agnes Akkerman

ABSTRACT We investigate differences in deviant behavior between temporary workers and permanent w... more ABSTRACT
We investigate differences in deviant behavior between temporary
workers and permanent workers and study the moderating role of
workplace cohesion. We distinguish between task cohesion, which
reflects the way colleagues work together as a team to complete
tasks, and social cohesion, which reflects how well colleagues relate.
We predict that task cohesion and social cohesion prompt norms on
tolerating group members’ deviant behavior and test our hypotheses
on the Work and Politics 2016 data set, consisting of 787 Dutch
employees. We find that temporary work does not lead to deviant
behavior per se, but its effect on deviant behavior is moderated by
workplace cohesion. We conclude that the distinction between task
cohesion and social cohesion is crucial for understanding the effect of
temporary work on deviant behavior.

Populist parties typically claim that democratic regimes fail to deliver results that are in line... more Populist parties typically claim that democratic regimes fail to deliver results that are in line with what´the people´want. To address this policy outcome failure, they favour direct democracy tools (Taggart, 2000:103-105 Yet, somewhat ironically, we do not know whether populists´proposed solution-the referendum-resonates with´the peopleít wishes to give voice to. This matters as one of the main positive effects of populist parties is their aspiration to give voice to groups that do not feel represented (Mudde and Rovira Kaltwasser, 2012:209). This study fills this gap by addressing three interrelated questions. First, we analyze if and to what extent people with populist attitudes are more in favour of referendums. Second, we analyze if and to what extent populist attitudes are linked to the decision to vote in the Dutch referendum about the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine. Third, we analyze if and to what extent these attitudes are linked to their vote choice. To answer these questions we use the Dutch 2016 National Referendum Survey.

Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 2016

Social Science Research, 2016

In this article, we investigate how communication and trust networks between employees affect par... more In this article, we investigate how communication and trust networks between employees affect participation in a strike. We analyze whether the strength of network relations is related to congruence in strike behavior using social network data on 59 Dutch workers. We find that private communication networks and trust networks lead to similar strike behavior. This finding indicates that networks not only promote protest mobilization but are also vehicles for demobilization, albeit through different network relations.

ABSTRACT Workers of the Globalized World: Explaining Difference in Workers’ Attitudes to Globaliz... more ABSTRACT Workers of the Globalized World: Explaining Difference in Workers’ Attitudes to Globalization Without any doubt globalization affects the life and work of workers. Increasing international trade and labor mobility poses challenges to individual workers. Labor movements’ response to these developments are to protect national (and regional) labor markets through further regulation of labor markets, in order to soften the blow for those workers who are the ‘losers of globalization’. However, workers are heterogeneous and the way in which globalization affects the life of workers is not equal for all workers: some groups of workers will have a lot to gain from globalization. How do workers perceive the effects of globalization? In this paper we explain individual workers’ attitudes towards the impact of economic globalization on several aspects, such as their selves and his/her family, the organization they work for, national employment. We explain their attitudes by demographics, labor market positions, occupational variables and political affiliation and attitudes. After a review of the literature, we formulate hypotheses on which workers will perceive globalization as a negative development and which workers will feel that globalizations is a positive development for different aspects of their lives, their career and employment. For the empirical analysis we use data from the web based survey “Distributional Conflict in a Globalized World, 2011”, a representative survey of the Dutch population (N=600). Our study contributes to our understanding of the consequences of globalization by analyzing individual level attitudes of workers. In an era of continued trade union decline, knowledge of different types of workers attitudes towards globalization may better enable the labor movement to represent the interest of all workers. Knowing which workers view globalization as a threat, and for whom globalization offers opportunities, helps labor organizations to developed more informed and differentiated mobilization campaigns .

The American Review of Public Administration, Feb 12, 2015

Challenges For Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and Unions in Times of Crisis and Austerity, Jul 6, 2012

Challenges For Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and Unions in Times of Crisis and Austerity, Jun 6, 2012

Challenges For Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and Unions in Times of Crisis and Austerity, May 16, 2012

American Journal of Sociology, 2016

Work, Employment & Society, 2014

Industrial Relations Journal, 2014

ABSTRACT This paper studies how employees anticipate change in social relations after a strike in... more ABSTRACT This paper studies how employees anticipate change in social relations after a strike in their organisation. We hypothesise that two group norms affect employees' fear that a strike deteriorates the social relations with their colleagues. We distinguish between two different norms associated with a collective action problem such as a strike. A ‘solidarity norm’ prescribes that workers should participate in collective protest when called for. A ‘free rider punishment norm’ describes whether and how violators of the solidarity norm should be treated. While the former itself theoretically does not impact intra-group social relations, the latter one does. We test our hypotheses on a data set of 468 Dutch union members. Adherence to the free rider punishment norm significantly increases a fear for deterioration of social relations with colleagues after a strike, while adherence to the solidarity norm does not. We also find a moderating effect of expected proportion of strikers. The results are discussed with reference to industrial relations theory and mobilisation theory, further probing into mechanisms that relate social norms to the (anticipated) costs of participation and the quality of social relations after a strike.

Relations industrielles, 2015

ABSTRACT We investigate differences in deviant behavior between temporary workers and permanent w... more ABSTRACT
We investigate differences in deviant behavior between temporary
workers and permanent workers and study the moderating role of
workplace cohesion. We distinguish between task cohesion, which
reflects the way colleagues work together as a team to complete
tasks, and social cohesion, which reflects how well colleagues relate.
We predict that task cohesion and social cohesion prompt norms on
tolerating group members’ deviant behavior and test our hypotheses
on the Work and Politics 2016 data set, consisting of 787 Dutch
employees. We find that temporary work does not lead to deviant
behavior per se, but its effect on deviant behavior is moderated by
workplace cohesion. We conclude that the distinction between task
cohesion and social cohesion is crucial for understanding the effect of
temporary work on deviant behavior.

Populist parties typically claim that democratic regimes fail to deliver results that are in line... more Populist parties typically claim that democratic regimes fail to deliver results that are in line with what´the people´want. To address this policy outcome failure, they favour direct democracy tools (Taggart, 2000:103-105 Yet, somewhat ironically, we do not know whether populists´proposed solution-the referendum-resonates with´the peopleít wishes to give voice to. This matters as one of the main positive effects of populist parties is their aspiration to give voice to groups that do not feel represented (Mudde and Rovira Kaltwasser, 2012:209). This study fills this gap by addressing three interrelated questions. First, we analyze if and to what extent people with populist attitudes are more in favour of referendums. Second, we analyze if and to what extent populist attitudes are linked to the decision to vote in the Dutch referendum about the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine. Third, we analyze if and to what extent these attitudes are linked to their vote choice. To answer these questions we use the Dutch 2016 National Referendum Survey.

Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 2016

Social Science Research, 2016

In this article, we investigate how communication and trust networks between employees affect par... more In this article, we investigate how communication and trust networks between employees affect participation in a strike. We analyze whether the strength of network relations is related to congruence in strike behavior using social network data on 59 Dutch workers. We find that private communication networks and trust networks lead to similar strike behavior. This finding indicates that networks not only promote protest mobilization but are also vehicles for demobilization, albeit through different network relations.

ABSTRACT Workers of the Globalized World: Explaining Difference in Workers’ Attitudes to Globaliz... more ABSTRACT Workers of the Globalized World: Explaining Difference in Workers’ Attitudes to Globalization Without any doubt globalization affects the life and work of workers. Increasing international trade and labor mobility poses challenges to individual workers. Labor movements’ response to these developments are to protect national (and regional) labor markets through further regulation of labor markets, in order to soften the blow for those workers who are the ‘losers of globalization’. However, workers are heterogeneous and the way in which globalization affects the life of workers is not equal for all workers: some groups of workers will have a lot to gain from globalization. How do workers perceive the effects of globalization? In this paper we explain individual workers’ attitudes towards the impact of economic globalization on several aspects, such as their selves and his/her family, the organization they work for, national employment. We explain their attitudes by demographics, labor market positions, occupational variables and political affiliation and attitudes. After a review of the literature, we formulate hypotheses on which workers will perceive globalization as a negative development and which workers will feel that globalizations is a positive development for different aspects of their lives, their career and employment. For the empirical analysis we use data from the web based survey “Distributional Conflict in a Globalized World, 2011”, a representative survey of the Dutch population (N=600). Our study contributes to our understanding of the consequences of globalization by analyzing individual level attitudes of workers. In an era of continued trade union decline, knowledge of different types of workers attitudes towards globalization may better enable the labor movement to represent the interest of all workers. Knowing which workers view globalization as a threat, and for whom globalization offers opportunities, helps labor organizations to developed more informed and differentiated mobilization campaigns .

The American Review of Public Administration, Feb 12, 2015

Challenges For Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and Unions in Times of Crisis and Austerity, Jul 6, 2012

Challenges For Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and Unions in Times of Crisis and Austerity, Jun 6, 2012

Challenges For Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and Unions in Times of Crisis and Austerity, May 16, 2012

American Journal of Sociology, 2016

Work, Employment & Society, 2014

Industrial Relations Journal, 2014

ABSTRACT This paper studies how employees anticipate change in social relations after a strike in... more ABSTRACT This paper studies how employees anticipate change in social relations after a strike in their organisation. We hypothesise that two group norms affect employees' fear that a strike deteriorates the social relations with their colleagues. We distinguish between two different norms associated with a collective action problem such as a strike. A ‘solidarity norm’ prescribes that workers should participate in collective protest when called for. A ‘free rider punishment norm’ describes whether and how violators of the solidarity norm should be treated. While the former itself theoretically does not impact intra-group social relations, the latter one does. We test our hypotheses on a data set of 468 Dutch union members. Adherence to the free rider punishment norm significantly increases a fear for deterioration of social relations with colleagues after a strike, while adherence to the solidarity norm does not. We also find a moderating effect of expected proportion of strikers. The results are discussed with reference to industrial relations theory and mobilisation theory, further probing into mechanisms that relate social norms to the (anticipated) costs of participation and the quality of social relations after a strike.

Relations industrielles, 2015