Tripartism

Tripartism is an economic system of neo-corporatism based on a mixed economy and tripartite contracts between employers' organizations, trade unions, and the government of a country.^[1][2] Each is to act as a social partner to create economic policy through cooperation, consultation, negotiation, and compromise.^[1] In Tripartism, the government has a large role in the economy and engages in negotiations between labour unions and business interest groups to establish economic policy.^[3][4]

Tripartism became a popular form of economic policy during the economic crisis of the 1930s.^[5] Tripartism was supported by a number of different political movements at this time, including: Catholic social teaching, fascism, and democratic political movements.^[5] Tripartism is a prominent economic policy in Europe, particularly where Christian Democratic parties influenced by Catholic social teaching have held power; it is a core part of the Nordic model seen in the economic systems of Scandinavia and the Benelux that were put in place by social democratic governments.^[6] An example is the national income policy agreement in Finland. Globally, tripartite institutions, such as Ghana's Tripartite Committee and Singapore's National Trade Union Congress, have been implemented into economic systems. Tripartite agreements are an important component in practical labour law, since they cover not only wages, but also issues such as policies on benefits, holiday, work hours and worker safety.