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The Career Effects of Union Membership

Author

Listed:
  • Dodini, Samuel

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Salvanes, Kjell G.

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Willén, Alexander

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Zhu, Li

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

Abstract

We combine exogenous variation in union membership with detailed administrative data and a novel field survey to estimate the career effects of labor union membership. In the survey, we show how workers perceive the role of unions in setting wages and determining work amenities. In the administrative data, we causally examine through which channels unions influence worker outcomes, whether unions influence workers differently across their careers, and what the overall long-run effects of individual union membership are. Our results highlight that the career effect of union membership differs greatly depending on the age at which workers enroll. In addition, we show that focusing on a restricted set of outcomes, such as wages and employment, generates a fractionalized understanding of the multidimensional career effect that union membership has on workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Dodini, Samuel & Salvanes, Kjell G. & Willén, Alexander & Zhu, Li, 2023. "The Career Effects of Union Membership," IZA Discussion Papers 16185, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16185
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bryson, Alex, 2002. "The union membership wage premium: an analysis using propensity score matching," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 4953, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dodini, Samuel & Willén, Alexander & Zhu, Julia Li, 2023. "The Role of Labor Unions in Immigrant Integration," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 24/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    unions; wage premiums; job protection; work environment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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