»Collective Bargaining Autonomy and Collective Agreement Coverage. On the Legitimation and Legitimacy of Autonomous Collective Bargaining over the Course of Time«: The analysis examines how autonomous collective bargaining has been historically legitimized and to what extent it has been regarded as a legitimate institution by politics and society in Germany. Results show that state interventions in autonomous collective bargaining fail if such interventions seek to cure symptoms without addressing the causes of the problems beneath. Regards the current debate on strengthening collective bargaining in Germany, the analysis therefore concludes: If the legislator wants to strengthen the collective bargaining coverage, it should increase the attractiveness of membership in associations and thus safeguard autonomous collective bargaining as collectively exercised private autonomy.