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Is Strike Behavior Cyclical?

Author

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  • Harrison, Alan
  • Stewart, Mark

Abstract

The authors examine cyclicality of strike frequency and incidence using Canadian data on strikes and contracts. Total strike frequency exhibits significant procyclicality, to which within-contract strikes contribute appreciably. Evidence is weaker for procyclical behavior of contract-expiry strikes, both in total and disaggregated by issue. Strike incidence is also procyclical, particularly in manufacturing, though the procyclicality here is confined to strikes over nonwage issues. These results mirror those obtained by analyzing the frequency of strikes in the contract data. Industry-specific cyclical variables positively affect strike incidence in manufacturing but region-specific variables have no effect. Copyright 1994 by University of Chicago Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Harrison, Alan & Stewart, Mark, 1994. "Is Strike Behavior Cyclical?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 12(4), pages 524-553, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:12:y:1994:i:4:p:524-53
    DOI: 10.1086/298361
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    Cited by:

    1. Gary-Bobo, Robert J. & Jaaidane, Touria, 2014. "Strikes and slowdown in a theory of relational contracts," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 89-116.
    2. Filippo Belloc, 2019. "Labor Conflict at the Workplace: Do Dismissal Regulations Matter?," Department of Economics University of Siena 806, Department of Economics, University of Siena.
    3. Henri Fraisse & Francis Kramarz & Corinne Prost, 2015. "Labor Disputes and Job Flows," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 68(5), pages 1043-1077, October.
    4. Paul J. Devereux & Robert A. Hart, 2011. "A Good Time to Stay Out? Strikes and the Business Cycle," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 49(Supplemen), pages 70-92, June.
    5. Peter Cramton & Morley Gunderson & Joseph Tracy, 1999. "The Effect Of Collective Bargaining Legislation On Strikes And Wages," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 81(3), pages 475-487, August.
    6. Sarah Brown & John Sessions, 2000. "Employee militancy in Britain: 1985-1990," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(13), pages 1767-1774.
    7. Sadat Reza & Paul Rilstone, 2016. "Semiparametric Efficiency Bounds and Efficient Estimation of Discrete Duration Models with Unspecified Hazard Rate," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(5), pages 693-726, May.
    8. William H. Greene & Ana P. Martins, 2002. "Striking Features of the Labor Market," EERI Research Paper Series EERI RP 2002/08, Economics and Econometrics Research Institute (EERI), Brussels.
    9. William H. Greene & Ana P. Martins, 2013. "Striking Features of the Labor Market: Empirical Evidence," Journal of Economics and Econometrics, Economics and Econometrics Society, vol. 56(2), pages 25-53.
    10. William H. Greene & Ana P. Martins, 2013. "Striking Features of the Labor Market: Theory," Journal of Economics and Econometrics, Economics and Econometrics Society, vol. 56(2), pages 1-24.
    11. Gregory Finley, 2010. "Strike Lengths: Correcting for Prestrike Announcements and the Ratio of Bargaining Size to Firm Size," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 307-321, December.

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