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UK Trades Unions and the Problems of Collective Action

Author

Listed:
  • Willman, Paul

    (London School of Economics)

  • Bryson, Alex

    (University College London)

  • Forth, John

    (Cass Business School)

Abstract

This paper looks at the financial resources of trades unions in the UK, both updating previous work and attempting to understand the management of first and second order collective action problems. First order problems refer to the problems of initiating collective action and second order problems refer to the management of collective action organisations. Unions are 'cost disease' organisations in which expenditure outstrips inflation but revenue may not. Their economic model cannot survive without some form of external subsidy. Both aggregate and case study data – from the largest UK union, Unite – are presented to illustrate the cost disease problem and to suggest options for its management.

Suggested Citation

  • Willman, Paul & Bryson, Alex & Forth, John, 2016. "UK Trades Unions and the Problems of Collective Action," IZA Discussion Papers 10043, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10043
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp10043.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John H. Pencavel, 1971. "The Demand for Union Services: An Exercise," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 24(2), pages 180-190, January.
    2. Jack Fiorito & Paul Jarley & John Thomas Delaney, 1995. "National Union Effectiveness in Organizing: Measures and Influences," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 48(4), pages 613-635, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ian Fitzgerald & Ron Beadle & Kevin Rowan, 2022. "Trade unions and the 2016 UK European Union Referendum," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(1), pages 388-409, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade unions; collective action;

    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects

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