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The Effects of Right-to-Work Laws: A Review of the Literature

Author

Listed:
  • William J. Moore
  • Robert J. Newman

Abstract

This paper reviews the several studies that have assessed the impact of right-to-work (RTW) laws on union membership, wages, and industry location. The authors show that the considerable difference in findings among these studies results largely from whether a study treats the presence or absence of an RTW law as an exogenous variable or one jointly endogenous with the extent of unionism in a state. Studies using the latter approach, which the authors believe preferable, have primarily concluded that the effects of RTW laws are more symbolic than substantive.

Suggested Citation

  • William J. Moore & Robert J. Newman, 1985. "The Effects of Right-to-Work Laws: A Review of the Literature," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 38(4), pages 571-585, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:38:y:1985:i:4:p:571-585
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kyung-nok Chun, 2023. "What do Right-to-Work Laws do to Unions? Evidence from Six Recently-Enacted RTW Laws," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 94-144, June.
    2. Edward J. Schumacher, "undated". "What Explains Union Membership Contract Coverage Wage Differentials?," Working Papers 9719, East Carolina University, Department of Economics.
    3. Jae Hong Kim, 2014. "Residential and job mobility: Interregional variation and their interplay in US metropolitan areas," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(13), pages 2863-2879, October.
    4. repec:rre:publsh:v:34:y:2004:i:1:p:95-111 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Roland Zullo, 2021. "Does the open shop harm union collective action?," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 183-197, March.
    6. Stevans, Lonnie, 2007. "The Effect of Right-to-Work Laws on Business and Economic Conditions: A Multivariate Approach," MPRA Paper 5638, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Bruce G. Carruthers & Naomi R. Lamoreaux, 2016. "Regulatory Races: The Effects of Jurisdictional Competition on Regulatory Standards," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 54(1), pages 52-97, March.
    8. David S. Lee & Alexandre Mas, 2012. "Long-Run Impacts of Unions on Firms: New Evidence from Financial Markets, 1961--1999," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 127(1), pages 333-378.
    9. David S. Lee & Alexandre Mas, 2009. "Long-Run Impacts of Unions on Firms: New Evidence from Financial Markets, 1961-1999," Working Papers 1117, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    10. Klein, Alexander, 2023. "From the Manufacturing Belt to the Rust Belt. Spatial Inequalities in the United States: An Interdisciplinary Literature Review," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 657, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    11. Stevans Lonnie K, 2009. "The Effect of Endogenous Right-to-Work Laws on Business and Economic Conditions in the United States: A Multivariate Approach," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 5(1), pages 595-614, October.
    12. David S. Lee & Alexandre Mas, 2012. "Long-Run Impacts of Unions on Firms: New Evidence from Financial Markets, 1961--1999," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 127(1), pages 333-378.
    13. Emin M. Dinlersoz & Ruben Hernandez-Murillo, 2002. "Did \\"right-to-work\\" work for Idaho?," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 84(May), pages 29-42.
    14. W. Robert Reed, 2003. "How Right-To-Work Laws Affect Wages," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 24(4), pages 713-730, October.
    15. Christopher Coombs, 2008. "The Decline in American Trade Union Membership and the “Government Substitution” Hypothesis:A Review of the Econometric Literature," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 99-113, June.
    16. Budd, John W & Na, In-Gang, 2000. "The Union Membership Wage Premium for Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(4), pages 783-807, October.
    17. Thomas J. Holmes, 1996. "The effects of state policies on the location of industry: evidence from state borders," Staff Report 205, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
    18. Chava, Sudheer & Danis, András & Hsu, Alex, 2020. "The economic impact of right-to-work laws: Evidence from collective bargaining agreements and corporate policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(2), pages 451-469.
    19. Han, Xiaoyi & Lee, Lung-fei, 2013. "Bayesian estimation and model selection for spatial Durbin error model with finite distributed lags," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 816-837.
    20. Ozkan Eren & I. Serkan Ozbeklik, 2011. "Right-to-Work Laws and State-Level Economic Outcomes: Evidence from the Case Studies of Idaho and Oklahoma Using Synthetic Control Method," Working Papers 1101 Classification-JEL J, University of Nevada, Las Vegas , Department of Economics.
    21. Addison, John T., 2006. "Politico-Economic Causes of Labor Regulation in the United States: Rent Seeking, Alliances, Raising Rivals' Costs (Even Lowering One's Own?), and Interjurisdictional Competition," IZA Discussion Papers 2381, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    22. repec:pri:cepsud:182lee is not listed on IDEAS
    23. William H. Oakland & William A. Testa, 1998. "Can the benefits principle be applied to state-local taxation of business?," Working Paper Series WP-98-16, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

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