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The Economic Effects of Unions in Latin America: Teachers' Unions and Education in Argentina

Author

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  • Murillo, Maria Victoria
  • Tommasi, Mariano
  • Ronconi, Lucas
  • Sanguinetti, Juan

Abstract

This paper considers the effects of trade unions on the education sector in Argentina and the channels of union influence on the performance of this crucial sector. The authors find that those provinces where teacher unionism is fragmented, where union density is higher and where political relations with the governor are more conflictual, have more strikes (fewer class days). Based on estimates of education production functions both in this paper and elsewhere, we expect this to translate into lower student performance. The authors then find a number of weak conclusions related to the impact that unions have on several variables that affect students' performance (i.e., teachers' tenure, job satisfaction, class size, education budget and teachers' salaries). Reviewing these results, we conclude that the impact of unions on students' performance depends on the channel and kind of political market where unions operate, but not on the existence of unions per se.

Suggested Citation

  • Murillo, Maria Victoria & Tommasi, Mariano & Ronconi, Lucas & Sanguinetti, Juan, 2002. "The Economic Effects of Unions in Latin America: Teachers' Unions and Education in Argentina," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 3277, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:3277
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0011247
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    2. Arias, Omar & Blom, Andreas & Bosch, Mariano & Cunningham, Wendy & Fiszbein, Ariel & Lopez Acevedo, Gladys & Maloney, William & Saavedra, Jaime & Sanchez-Paramo, Carolina & Santamaria, Mauricio & Siga, 2005. "Pending issues in protection, productivity growth, and poverty reduction," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3799, The World Bank.
    3. Emiliana Vegas, 2005. "Incentives to Improve Teaching : Lessons from Latin America," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 7265, October.
    4. Alvarez, Jesus & Moreno, Vicente Garcia & Patrinos, Harry Anthony, 2007. "Institutional effects as determinants of learning outcomes : exploring state variations in Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4286, The World Bank.
    5. Emiliana Vegas & Ilana Umansky, 2005. "Improving Teaching and Learning through Effective Incentives : What Can We Learn from Education Reforms in Latin America?," World Bank Publications - Reports 8694, The World Bank Group.
    6. Barbara Bruns & Javier Luque & Noah Yarrow, 2015. "Great Teachers : How to Raise Student Learning in Latin America and the Caribbean," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 20488, October.

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