New Estimates of the Industrial Locus of Unionism in the United States

37 Pages Posted: 19 Jun 2004 Last revised: 2 Oct 2022

See all articles by Richard B. Freeman

Richard B. Freeman

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); University of Edinburgh - School of Social and Political Studies; Harvard University; London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)

James L. Medoff

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: August 1978

Abstract

This study presents new estimates of collective bargaining coverage and union membership for detailed U.S. industries. It compares the new coverage and membership figures with each other and with figures derived by researchers for the early 1960's and analyzes the divergences. This analysis leads to three primary conclusions:1) Estimated coverage percentages are on average higher than estimated membership percentages; 2) This relationship is primarily the result of the absence of union security clauses (under which covered employees must at some point become union members); 3) Even among production workers within detailed industries, private sector unionism has been dwindling during the past two decades.

Suggested Citation

Freeman, Richard B. and Medoff, James L., New Estimates of the Industrial Locus of Unionism in the United States (August 1978). NBER Working Paper No. w0273, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=260467

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