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Inequality and Union Membership: The Influence of Relative Earnings and Inequality Attitudes

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  • Daniele Checchi
  • Jelle Visser
  • Herman G. Van De Werfhorst

Abstract

Using surveys from the International Social Survey Programme covering the period 1985–2002 for seven European countries (West and East Germany, Sweden, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands and Great Britain), we examine the effect of relative earnings on union membership and show that union density is higher among workers in the intermediate earnings group than among low or high earners. Next, we examine the association of inequality attitudes with union membership and demonstrate that union membership is not only motivated by instrumental considerations related to relative earnings, but also by normative concerns about inequality. We interpret our findings suggesting that rising earnings inequality is in itself a source of union decline.

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  • Daniele Checchi & Jelle Visser & Herman G. Van De Werfhorst, 2010. "Inequality and Union Membership: The Influence of Relative Earnings and Inequality Attitudes," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(1), pages 84-108, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:48:y:2010:i:1:p:84-108
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2009.00757.x
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    2. Maarten Keune, 2021. "Inequality between capital and labour and among wage-earners: the role of collective bargaining and trade unions," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 27(1), pages 29-46, February.
    3. Jonas Pontusson, 2013. "Unionization, Inequality and Redistribution," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(4), pages 797-825, December.
    4. Dierk Herzer, 2016. "Unions and Income Inequality," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 30(3), pages 267-274, August.
    5. Fenet Jima Bedaso & Uwe Jirjahn & Lazlo Goerke, 2022. "Immigrants and Trade Union Membership; Does Integration into Society and Workplace Play a Moderating Role?," IAAEU Discussion Papers 202203, Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union (IAAEU).
    6. Nickolaos Giovanis & Efstratios Giovanis, 2020. "Assessment On The Change Of Union Density Rate By Means Of Macroeconomic Indicators: A Quantitative Research," Noble International Journal of Economics and Financial Research, Noble Academic Publsiher, vol. 5(6), pages 63-73, June.
    7. Olivier Guillot & Magali Jaoul-Grammare & Isabelle Terraz, 2019. "Union Membership in France: An Empirical Study," Working Papers of BETA 2019-04, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    8. Cyprien Batut & Ulysse Lojkine & Paolo Santini, 2021. "Which side are you on? A historical perspective on union membership composition in four European countries," Working Papers halshs-03364022, HAL.
    9. Christopher T. Whelan & Bertrand Maître, 2012. "Understanding Material Deprivation in Europe: A Multilevel Analysis," Working Papers 201205, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    10. Veliziotis, Michail, 2010. "Trade unions and unpaid overtime in Britain," ISER Working Paper Series 2010-43, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    11. Elin Svarstad & Ragnar Nymoen, 2023. "Wage inequality and union membership at the establishment level: An econometric study using Norwegian data," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 75(2), pages 371-392.
    12. Louis Chauvel & Martin Schröder, 2017. "A Prey-Predator Model of Trade Union Density and Inequality in 12 Advanced Capitalisms over Long Periods," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(1), pages 3-26, February.
    13. Föll, Tobias & Hartmann, Anna, 2019. "A Joint Theory of Polarization and Deunionization," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203558, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    14. Damian Grimshaw & Gerhard Bosch & Jill Rubery, 2014. "Minimum Wages and Collective Bargaining: What Types of Pay Bargaining Can Foster Positive Pay Equity Outcomes?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(3), pages 470-498, September.
    15. No authors listed, 2021. "Wie Ungleichheit der Demokratie schadet," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 47(3), pages 297-307.
    16. Christopher Whelan & Bertrand Maitre, 2012. "GINI DP 37: Understanding Material Deprivation in Europe: A Multilevel Analysis," GINI Discussion Papers 37, AIAS, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.
    17. Bram Lancee & Herman Werfhorst, 2011. "GINI DP 6: Income Inequality and Participation: A Comparison of 24 European Countries," GINI Discussion Papers 6, AIAS, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.
    18. Fabian Engler & Linda Voigt, 2023. "There is power in a union? Union members' preferences and the conditional effect of labour unions on left parties in different welfare state programmes," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 61(1), pages 89-109, March.

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