Editing Polder model (section)

==Socioeconomic polder model==
[[File:Wim Kok 1994.jpg|thumbnail|[[Wim Kok]], former [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]], supported the polder model.]]
The Dutch polder model is characterised by the [[tripartist]] cooperation between [[employers' organisation]]s such as [[VNO-NCW]], [[labour union]]s such as the [[Federation Dutch Labour Movement]], and the [[government]]. These talks are embodied in the [[Social-Economic Council]] ({{langx|nl|Sociaal-Economische Raad}}, SER). The SER serves as the central forum to discuss labour issues and has a long tradition of consensus, often defusing labour conflicts and avoiding [[strike action]]s. Similar models are in use in [[Finland]], namely the [[Comprehensive Income Policy Agreement]] and [[universal validity of collective labour agreements]].

The current Dutch polder model is said to have begun with the [[Wassenaar Agreement]] of 1982, when unions, employers, and government decided on a comprehensive plan to revitalise the economy involving shorter working times and less pay on the one hand, and more employment on the other,<ref>Elke van Riel, "Akkoord van Wassenaar keerpunt in relatie regering en sociale partners", ''SER Magazine'', 2010 (versie 9) ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150415042502/http://www.ser.nl/nl/publicaties/overzicht%20ser%20bulletin/2010/september_2010/06.aspx archived] 15 April 2015).</ref> has increasingly steered in the direction of a [[neoliberal]] economic policy of [[privatisation]] and budget cuts.

An important role in this process was played by the Dutch [[CPB (Netherlands)|Central Planning Bureau]] (CPB), founded by [[Jan Tinbergen]]. The CPB's policy advice since 1976, in particular with the Den Hartog and Tjan model, in favour of [[wage restraint]], was an important argument, supportive for government and employers, that the unions could not easily counter. Many authors and researchers have argued that the importance of the Wassenaar Agreement has been largely overrated.<ref>Agnes Akkerman, [http://www.ru.nl/@752137/pagina/ "Zo historisch was het Akkoord van Wassenaar niet"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924092540/http://www.ru.nl/@752137/pagina/ |date=2015-09-24 }}, [[Radboud University Nijmegen]], 2007 (retrieved 25 February 2015).</ref><ref>Jaap Woldendorp, ''The Polder Model: From Disease to Miracle? Dutch Neo-corporatism 1965–2000'' (Amsterdam, 2005), 267–69.</ref><ref>Piet de Rooy, ''Republiek van rivaliteiten; Nederland sinds 1813'' (2nd printing Amsterdam, 2005), 216–17.</ref><ref name=Kuipers>Stijn Kuipers, [https://www.academia.edu/11843938/Het_begin_van_het_moderne_Nederlandse_poldermodel "Het begin van het moderne Nederlandse poldermodel; De Hoge Raad van Arbeid van 1920 als eerste manifestatie van het Nederlandse tripartiete sociaaleconomische overlegmodel?"], Radboud University Nijmegen, 2015.</ref> Most of these writers have argued that considerable continuity can be seen from the 1950s onwards. Historian Stijn Kuipers, goes even further. In an article reliant on the work of Coen Helderman,<ref>Coen Helderman, [http://www.tseg.nl/2004/2-helderman.pdf "De Hoge Raad van Arbeid, 1919–1940(–1950)"], ''Tijdschrift voor Sociale en Economische Geschiedenis'' I:2 (2004).</ref> Kuipers argues that the modern socioeconomic polder model already manifested itself in 1920 with the Dutch High Council of Labour. It follows that the polder model is therefore much older and could have had a larger influence on Dutch society and economy than previously thought.<ref name=Kuipers/>