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Abstract: The effects of trade unions on firm performance are theoretically ambiguous. The sizable empirical literature on their effects is almost exclusively confined to developed countries, particularly those in North America and Europe. We contribute to the literature by estimating union effects on firm performance in about 40,000 firms in 77 developing countries between 2002 and 2011. In doing so, we exploit standardized firm-level data collected by the World Bank. We find positive partial correlations between unionization and firm labor productivity and wages, especially in lower-income countries. These positive effects persist when we instrument for union presence, consistent with recent evidence of union positive effects on productivity and wages in western industrialized countries.

The Sociology Seminar Series for Trinity Term is convened by Ozan Aksoy and Zachary Parolin For more information about this or any of the seminars in the series, please contact sociology.secretary@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.