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Unions, Government Services, and Public Employees

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  • Lawrence M. Spizman

    (State University of New York at Oswego)

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of public employee unionism and the interdependency among different levels of government on the demand for state and local government employees. The evidence suggests that highly organized public employees exert enough political pressure to alter the terms and conditions of employment. The interdependency among different levels of government indicates that employment decisions at one level of government are related to employment decisions of other governments serving the same population. Thus, although services provided to a given population come from different political jurisdictions, these jurisdictions complement each other in providing the service. The results suggest that both market and nonmarket forces affect state and local governments' employment portfolio. Consequently, consideration should be given to both collective bargaining and the political process in analyzing the demand for public employees.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence M. Spizman, 1980. "Unions, Government Services, and Public Employees," Public Finance Review, , vol. 8(4), pages 427-442, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:8:y:1980:i:4:p:427-442
    DOI: 10.1177/109114218000800403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haefele, Edwin T, 1971. "A Utility Theory of Representative Government," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 61(3), pages 350-367, June.
    2. Ehrenberg, Ronald G, 1973. "The Demand for State and Local Government Employees," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 63(3), pages 366-379, June.
    3. Forrest D. Nelson, 1976. "On a General Computer Algorithm for the Analysis of Models with Limited Dependent Variables," NBER Chapters, in: Annals of Economic and Social Measurement, Volume 5, number 4, pages 493-509, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Orley Ashenfelter, 1971. "The Effect of Unionization on Wages in the Public Sector: The Case of Fire Fighters," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 24(2), pages 191-202, January.
    5. McMahon, Walter W, 1970. "An Economic Analysis of Major Determinants of Expenditures on Public Education," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 52(3), pages 242-252, August.
    6. Lahiri, Kajal, 1976. "Inflationary Expectations: Their Formation and Interest Rate Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(1), pages 124-131, March.
    7. Schmenner, Roger W, 1973. "The Determination of Municipal Employee Wages," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 55(1), pages 83-90, February.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mark Schneider, 1989. "Intercity competition and the size of the local public work force," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 253-265, December.

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