We critically review the recent literature on currency unions, and discuss the methodological challenges posed by the empirical assessment of their costs and benefits. In the process, we provide evidence on the economic effects of the euro. In particular, and in contrast with estimates of the trade effect of other currency unions, we find that the impact of the euro on trade has been close to z...

The Determinants of Firm Performance: Unions, Works Councils, and Employee Involvement/High Performance Work Practices Drawing on evidence from the United States and Germany, this paper offers a survey of the effects of worker representation (in unions and works councils) and innovative work practices on firm performance. The focus is on the growing links between these two historically separate...

Deregulation and liberalization of health services take several forms in Europe: public-private partnerships; contracting out of services; and corporatization of health care institutions. The impact on health workers includes changes in terms and conditions of employment, breakup of collective bargaining agreements, and often more stressful working conditions. The author examines four types of ...

PURPOSE Examine unionized workers' knowledge and attitudes about workplace tobacco use, their exposure to secondhand smoke, and the role of labor unions in addressing smoking and cessation coverage policies. DESIGN Random-digit dial telephone survey. SUBJECTS Unionized workers in Minnesota (N = 508). MEASURES Knowledge and attitudes about workplace tobacco use and tobacco control policy m...

BACKGROUND Migrant workers have become a vital labor supply to China's economy. Their migration process and work conditions may influence their health and work ability. The work ability of migrant workers in China and the influence of the migration process on work ability have not been explored extensively in previous studies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of migrat...

We all know that labor unions in the private sector are in untrammeled decline. From about twenty-five percent in the 1950s, today the percent of employees in the private sector that are members of a labor union is less than nine percent.' It is expected that the decline will continue until union density reaches an equilibrium point of about three percent.' The future is not bright. However, un...

To give you a history of the evolution of the Prevention through Design (PtD) concepts, upon which I will base suggestions for possible future activities, I commence with a review of how an Institute for Safety through Design was created at the National Safety Council. In the early 1990s, several safety professionals recognized, through their studies of investigational reports of occupational i...

The mid-1970's marked a turning point in Italy's industrial relations system . At that time, the system appeared to be a case of pluralism, recognized and supported by the statute of workers' rights (Act 300/1970). The main aspects and institutions of industrial relations remained outside the legal regulation . In fact, trade unions and employers' associations exercised joint power. Trade union...

Credit Unions have been exposed to a challenging economic environment over the past several years. The turmoil has been marked by numerous failures and consolidations within the Credit Union industry, coupled with increased regulatory scrutiny. However, some Credit Unions have fared better than others. Variation in the performance of Credit Unions, each exposed to a relatively similar economic ...

Randall Eberts explores the role of teachers unions in public education. He focuses particularly on how collective bargaining agreements shape the delivery of educational services, how unions affect both student achievement and the cost of providing quality education, and how they support educational reform efforts. Eberts's synthesis of the empirical research concludes that union bargaining ra...