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Right‐to‐Work Laws and Manufacturing Employment: The Importance of Spatial Dependence

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  • Charlene M. Kalenkoski
  • Donald J. Lacombe

Abstract

Using 2000 decennial census data, we estimate the relationships between right‐to‐work (RTW) laws and employment in manufacturing and other industries. Estimates that do not account for geographically correlated omitted factors dramatically overstate the positive relationship between RTW legislation and manufacturing employment. We estimate that RTW legislation is associated with an increase in manufacturing's share of private wage and salary employment of 2.12%, an estimate almost 30% lower than the estimate that does not control for these spatially correlated omitted factors. Results for other industries indicate that RTW legislation is negatively associated with employment shares in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining industries and some service industries, but is positively associated with employment shares in the information and professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services industries. Improperly controlling for geographic factors can lead to incorrect inferences and misinform policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlene M. Kalenkoski & Donald J. Lacombe, 2006. "Right‐to‐Work Laws and Manufacturing Employment: The Importance of Spatial Dependence," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 73(2), pages 402-418, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:73:y:2006:i:2:p:402-418
    DOI: 10.1002/j.2325-8012.2006.tb00778.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Gihleb, Rania & Giuntella, Osea & Tan, Jian Qi, 2023. "The Impact of Right-to-Work Laws on Long Hours and Work Schedules," IZA Discussion Papers 16588, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Nguyen, Justin Hung & Qiu, Buhui, 2022. "Right-to-Work laws and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

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