Ruling Out Productivity? Labor Contract Pages and Plant Performance

22 Pages Posted: 29 Jun 2004 Last revised: 29 Sep 2022

See all articles by Casey Ichniowski

Casey Ichniowski

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: June 1984

Abstract

This study documents a strong inverse relationship between number of pages of labor contracts in effect and the productivity observed in a sample of ten unionized plants. It is argued that this relationship reflects the productivity-inhibiting effects of increases in the number and complexity of work rules. The study also argues that subsequent research should try to improve the measurement of work rules by considering the substance of the rules and which parameters of a production function the rules are likely to affect.

Suggested Citation

Ichniowski, Bernard E. (Casey), Ruling Out Productivity? Labor Contract Pages and Plant Performance (June 1984). NBER Working Paper No. w1368, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=324011

Bernard E. (Casey) Ichniowski (Contact Author)

Columbia University - Columbia Business School, Management ( email )

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New York, NY 10027
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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