EN
Whereas the strong role of German trade unions influence in social policy during the expansion of the German welfare state is uncontested, its impact on the so called retrench- ment-period since the 1990s is doubtful. Several experts even predict the end of corpora- tism. Nevertheless, in this study we assume an expansion of social policy programs. The influence of unions rises simultaneously because of their growing power resources and other circumstances, which are analyzed systematically.