ECIN Replication Package for "Productivity Dynamics Among Union Locals in the United States"

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Thomas Breda, Paris School of Economics; Alex Bryson, University College London; John Forth, City St Georges, University of London

Version:  View help for Version V2

Name File Type Size Last Modified
zbp05totals.txt text/plain 1.6 MB 11/10/2025 11:29:AM

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary The study is primarily based on the analysis of panel data for union locals in the United States. The data derive from the Labor Organization Reporting System (LORS) and are provided by the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS).

Using the LORS data, we examine the dynamics of the union sector in the US, investigating the impact of inter-union competition on locals’ productivity and survival. We find low entry rates, high exit rates and high levels of productivity dispersion in the sector. The entry of new locals is not associated with productivity improvements among incumbents but has a small negative impact on locals’ survival rates. These findings indicate that inter-union competition is not effective in raising productivity and the effects of creative destruction are weak, with these processes likely insufficient to stem the sector’s overall decline.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms organisational dynamics; competition; productivity; trade unions; survival
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      J51 Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
      L11 Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
      L22 Firm Organization and Market Structure
      L31 Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
Manuscript Number:  View help for Manuscript Number ECIN-Mar-2024-0114
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage United States
Universe:  View help for Universe Locals (individual branches) of trade unions representing private sector employees, federal employees or postal employees. Labor organizations representing only state or local government employees are not included. 
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) administrative records data

Methodology

Response Rate:  View help for Response Rate Not applicable - administrative data
Sampling:  View help for Sampling Not applicable - administrative data
Data Source:  View help for Data Source The data derive from the Labor Organization Reporting System (LORS), 2000-2022. They were obtained from the US Office of Labor Management Standards.
Collection Mode(s):  View help for Collection Mode(s) other
Scales:  View help for Scales None
Weights:  View help for Weights None
Unit(s) of Observation:  View help for Unit(s) of Observation Union locals
Geographic Unit:  View help for Geographic Unit ZIP code

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Published Versions

V2 [2025-11-10]

V1 [2025-10-03]

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DDI 2.5

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