Pensions, Unions and Implicit Contracts

28 Pages Posted: 15 Mar 2007 Last revised: 27 Jul 2022

See all articles by Alan L. Gustman

Alan L. Gustman

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Thomas L. Steinmeier

Texas Tech University - Department of Economics and Geography

Date Written: October 1986

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relation of pension coverage and key plan characteristics to measures of union membership and strength, and to related interactions. The large and significant relationships which are found cannot be explained by, and are often inconsistent with, predictions obtained by extending the major explanations for the existence of pensions to allow for union monopoly effects. The findings support some (but not other) explanations in which the impetus for pensions arises more directly from the behavior of unions, and suggest that behavioral and related policy analyses of pensions should be conducted separately for the union and nonunion sectors.

Suggested Citation

Gustman, Alan L. and Steinmeier, Thomas L., Pensions, Unions and Implicit Contracts (October 1986). NBER Working Paper No. w2036, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=970918

Alan L. Gustman (Contact Author)

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Thomas L. Steinmeier

Texas Tech University - Department of Economics and Geography ( email )

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