Tag: unions

Hands fighting over a rope

Something remarkable is happening in the economics profession. Top researchers in the field have begun arguing for policies to alleviate growing U.S. income and wealth inequality. For decades, inequality wasn’t taken very seriously by economists. But that view “has changed dramatically,” said James K. Galbraith of the University of Texas at Austin, who moderated a…

American flag flying over government building in city, blue sky and clouds

The brief’s key findings are: Recent debates suggest that union power has led to higher public pension benefits. Interestingly, union strength appears to have no impact on the level or growth of benefits. Because pensions are legislated, not bargained, lobbying expertise may be more important than union size. In contrast, union strength does seem to…