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. Each is to act as a social partner to create economic policy through cooperation, consultation, negotiation, and compromise. In Tripartism, the government has a large role in the economy and engages in negotiations between labor unions and business interest groups to establish economic policy.
Tripartism became a popular form of economic policy during the economic crisis of the 1930s. Tripartism was supported by a number of different political movements at this time, including: Catholic social teaching, fascism, and democratic political movements. 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. An example is the national income policy agreement in Finland. Tripartite agreements are an important component in practical labor law, since they cover not only wages, but also issues such as policies on benefits, vacation, work hours and worker safety.
The International Labor Organization is the only United Nations agency that is based on tripartism. It uses the discussions between the three groups in drafting of standards and conventions. Also for the implementation of ILO-standards in national law tripartite consultations on a national level are a requirement for those countries party to the Tripartite Consultation (International Labor Standards) Convention, 1976.
The United States withdrew from the ILO in 1977, based partly on the claim that communist countries could not send authentically tripartite representation. The United States restored its membership with the ILO in 1980, with President Jimmy Carter having established the President's Committee on the ILO ("PC/ILO").