Corporate-State Interlocks in the Netherlands: 1969-2006

Abstract

This paper investigates the shifting relationships between business and state over the period 1969-2006 in a coordinated market economy. Participation of corporate directors in advisory boards and boards of other state institutions create a web of business-state relationships. This network had its heydays during the mid-seventies. Since then, it has declined dramatically and the distance between business and politics has been growing. Yet for some ministries and policy sectors the decline has been more spectacular than for others. The Ministry of Education has lost nearly all of its interlocks with industry between 1969 and 1996, the Ministry of Finance has maintained its contacts with the banking sector until 1996, but lost all its contacts after 1996. The Ministry of Economic Affairs also lost most of its personal interlocks in the period 1969-2006, but remains connected with the corporate world. With the benefit of hindsight it can be said that the network had its apogee around 1970.