영국 노동조합의 경제적 효과

Abstract

This Study is to analyse the effect of unions on pay, productivity, employment, profitability and investment, in conjunction with labour markets reforms launched by the Conservative Government in the 1980s. The economic effects of trade unions are results of interactions among workers, employers and the governmnet. It still remains as a hot debatable issue. Union members earn more, on average, than comparable non-union members. It is said that the average wage premium is 10% just under. The closed shop is the key to extra pay for union members. However, as a consequence of union activities, there is less wage dispersion among individuals, and pay differentials by race, sex, and occupations are narrower than they otherwise would be. Union effects on productivity have two directions. That is, one is the positive effect, the other negative. The net effect of the two opposing set of forces is that unionisation is associated with lower labour productivity or, at best, has no effect. Union militancy may raise real wage above the level warranted by productivity. This in tum has adverse effects on employment. If unions bring about higher costs via their effects on relative pay and labour productivity, union presence may be associated with lower profitability. Unions mayor may not deter investment. But the negative effect of unions on investment appears to have fallen after introduction of the anti-union legislation. Overall, we find that the negative economic effects of unions may diminish as union density falls and the closed shop withers throughout the 1980s. However, where density remains high, the union effects on financial performance and employment may survive.