Oral Presentation by Sabine Bösl¹
¹ University of Innsbruck, Austria
TIME: Thursday, 16 July, 10:30 – 12:00
Location: Room 1
Session: 17
Abstract
Using survey data from 386 university students in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, this study examines how students’ sociodemographic characteristics are associated with pluralism in the employment system. Pluralism is defined as the belief that employment relationships involve conflicts of interest that should be balanced through institutions such as labor law and trade unions. The findings show that students’ economic, social, and cultural capital are only weak predictors of pluralism. However, students’ social background plays a role in shaping pluralism when mediated by psychological capital. In addition, the data reveal differences in pluralism between management and psychology students and between genders, with female psychology students being most likely to support pluralism. These effects are mediated by students’ equality orientation, but not by psychological capital. Overall, the findings suggest that normative orientations and trait-like qualities are more important in shaping students’ views on employment relations than social background. This opens pathways for university interventions aimed at fostering pluralism.