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Unions and Wage Insurance

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Author Info
Burda, Michael C

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Abstract

Existing theories of unions emphasize their impact on wage levels relative to the opportunity cost of leisure. This paper explores the possibility that monopoly unions provide income insurance against idiosyncratic wage variability. An optimal union contract is characterized by real wage and other types of flexibility only in response to systematic changes in underlying uncertainty. Under such conditions, there is no presumption that the `union wage premium' relative to the free market wage is positive. The model shows the effect of unemployment benefits, average productivity, and risk on the desirability of union membership, and offers an economic interpretation of equity and solidarity in union policy. It can also explain the negative correlation between inequality and unionism in developed countries.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 1232.

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Date of creation: Aug 1995
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:1232

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Related research
Keywords: Implicit Contracts; Insurance; Labour Unions; Wage Differentials;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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  1. Daniele Checchi & Jelle Visser & Herman G. van de Werfhorst, 2007. "Inequality and Union Membership: The Impact of Relative Earnings Position and Inequality Attitudes," IZA Discussion Papers 2691, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
  2. Laszlo Goerke & Markus Pannenberg, 2008. "Risk Aversion and Trade Union Membership," SOEPpapers 88, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Thorsten Vogel, 2007. "Union Wage Compression in a Right-to-Manage Model," SFB 649 Discussion Papers SFB649DP2007-009, Sonderforschungsbereich 649, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  4. Gürtzgen, Nicole, 2005. "Rent-Sharing and Collective Bargaining Coverage ? Evidence from Linked Employer-Employee Data," ZEW Discussion Papers 05-90, ZEW - Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung / Center for European Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
  5. M. Burda, . "European Labor Markets and the Euro: How Much Flexibility Do We Really Need?," Sonderforschungsbereich 373 1999-41, Humboldt Universitaet Berlin.
    Other versions:
  6. Jonas Agell, 2000. "On the Determinants of Labour Market Institutions: Rent-Sharing vs. Social Insurance," CESifo Working Paper Series CESifo Working Paper No. , CESifo Group Munich. [Downloadable!]
  7. Agell, Jonas, 2001. "On the Determinants of Labour Market Institutions: Rent Seeking vs. Social Insurance," Research Papers in Economics 2001:12, Stockholm University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  8. Mishkin, Frederic S., 1998. "International Experiences With Different Monetary Policy Regimes," Seminar Papers 648, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  9. Nicole Gürtzgen, 2006. "The effect of firm- ans industry-level contracts on wages : evidence from longitudinal linked employer-employee data," ZEW Discussion Papers 06-82, ZEW - Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung / Center for European Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
  10. Taylor, John B., 1998. "The Robustness and Efficiency of Monetary Policy Rules as Guidelines for Interest Rate Setting by the European Central Bank," Seminar Papers 649, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  11. Agell, Jonas, 2000. "On the Determinants of Labour Market Institutions: Rent-sharing vs. Social Insurance," Working Paper Series 2000:16, Uppsala University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  12. Lindbeck, Assar, 1998. "Swedish Lessons for Post-Socialist Countries," Seminar Papers 645, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  13. Karsten Kohn & Alexander Lembcke, 2007. "Wage distributions by bargaining regime," AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 247-261, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  14. John DiNardo & Kevin Hallock & Jorn-Steffen Pischke, 1997. "Unions and Managerial Pay," NBER Working Papers 6318, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
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