Wage Effects of Unionization and Occupational Licensing Coverage in the United States

54 Pages Posted: 18 May 2013 Last revised: 30 Jan 2023

See all articles by Maury Gittleman

Maury Gittleman

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Morris M. Kleiner

Humphrey School of Public Affairs; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: May 2013

Abstract

Recent estimates in standard models of wage determination for both unionization and occupational licensing have shown wage effects that are similar across the two institutions. These cross-sectional estimates use specialized data sets, with small sample sizes, for the period 2006 through 2008. Our analysis examines the impact of unions and licensing coverage on wage determination using new data collected on licensing statutes that are then linked to longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) from 1979 to 2010. We develop several approaches, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, to measure the impact of these two labor market institutions on wage determination. Our estimates of the economic returns to union coverage are greater than those for licensing requirements.

Suggested Citation

Gittleman, Maury and Kleiner, Morris M., Wage Effects of Unionization and Occupational Licensing Coverage in the United States (May 2013). NBER Working Paper No. w19061, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2266807

Maury Gittleman (Contact Author)

Bureau of Labor Statistics ( email )

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Room 4130
Washington, DC 20212
United States

Morris M. Kleiner

Humphrey School of Public Affairs ( email )

Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States
612-625-2089 (Phone)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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