The importance of legal strength for trade unions: Theory and evidence from China

Jianxuan Lei

Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 2024, vol. 63, issue 4, 491-511

Abstract: This paper studies how legal strength—the effectiveness of a legal system in governing the use of laws—influences trade unions in China. By focusing on the institutional environment in which laws are practiced, I theorize that a strong legal system can empower trade unions through direct legal mobilization and legal consciousness. Empirical analysis with data collected from multiple sources supports this prediction. I find that unionization is more prevalent in strong legal systems than in weak ones. Moreover, Chinese unions improve labor outcomes to a greater extent when one or more dimensions of the legal systems are strong.

Date: 2024
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https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.12351

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:indres:v:63:y:2024:i:4:p:491-511

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