The persistent decline in unionization in western and eastern Germany, 1980-2004: What can we learn from a decomposition analysis?

Claus Schnabel and Joachim Wagner ()

No 45, Discussion Papers from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Chair of Labour and Regional Economics

Abstract: An empirical analysis of various waves of the ALLBUS social survey shows that union density fell substantially in Germany from 1980 to 2004. Such a negative trend can be observed for men and women and for different groups of the workforce. Regression estimates indicate that the probability of union membership is related to a number of personal and occupational variables such as age, public sector employment and being a blue collar worker (significant in western Germany only). A decomposition analysis shows that differences in union density over time and between eastern and western Germany to a large degree cannot be explained by differences in the characteristics of employees. Contrary to wide-spread perceptions, changes in the composition of the workforce seem to have played a minor role in the fall in union density in western and eastern Germany.

Keywords: union membership; union density; Germany; decomposition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Persistent Decline in Unionization in Western and Eastern Germany, 1980-2004 - What Can We Learn from a Decomposition Analysis? (2007)
Working Paper: The Persistent Decline in Unionization in Western and Eastern Germany, 1980-2004: What Can We Learn from a Decomposition Analysis? (2006)
Working Paper: The persistent decline in unionization in western and eastern Germany, 1980-2004: What can we learn from a decomposition analysis? (2006)
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