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Economic Globalization and Strike Activity in the United States, 1964-1980
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Economic Globalization and Strike Activity in the United States, 1964-1980
Abstract
Globalization may influence strike activity in several different ways. Past scholarship on this topic indicates that the effect of trade on the bargaining position of labor may be important. In a labor scarce country like the United States, import competition should weaken the position of labor and thus reduce strike activity. On the other hand, research emphasizing the bargaining process suggests that globalization's effects on uncertainty in the negotiations between labor and capital may matter more. Rapid globalization might thus increase strike activity. Similarly, the literature on relative deprivation and protest implies that the disruptive effects of globalization should increase strike activity, at least in the short run. Examining data on strike activity across the 50 states between 1964 and 1980, we find some support for each of these claims. Although changes in import sensitivity tend to increase strike activity, a high level of import sensitivity reduces strikes by eroding the bargaining position of labor and reducing union density. The pattern we find is one in which the early stages of globalization are marked by greater strike activity, but that strike activity declines once exposure to the international competition becomes relatively great.
M. Rodwan Abouharb Assistant Professor Department of Political Science 240 Stubbs Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge LA 70809 ## email not listed ##
Benjamin Fordham Associate Professor Department of Political Science Binghamton University PO Box 6000 Binghamton NY 13902-6000 ## email not listed ##
The authors would like to thank Belinda Davis, Rich Fording, and David Cingranelli for their generous assistance. Responsibility for any remaining error is ours.
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| | Authors: Abouharb, Mohammed. and Fordham, Benjamin. |
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Economic Globalization and Strike Activity in the United States, 1964-1980
Abstract
Globalization may influence strike activity in several different ways. Past scholarship on
this topic indicates that the effect of trade on the bargaining position of labor may be
important. In a labor scarce country like the United States, import competition should
weaken the position of labor and thus reduce strike activity. On the other hand, research
emphasizing the bargaining process suggests that globalization's effects on uncertainty in
the negotiations between labor and capital may matter more. Rapid globalization might
thus increase strike activity. Similarly, the literature on relative deprivation and protest
implies that the disruptive effects of globalization should increase strike activity, at least
in the short run. Examining data on strike activity across the 50 states between 1964 and
1980, we find some support for each of these claims. Although changes in import
sensitivity tend to increase strike activity, a high level of import sensitivity reduces
strikes by eroding the bargaining position of labor and reducing union density. The
pattern we find is one in which the early stages of globalization are marked by greater
strike activity, but that strike activity declines once exposure to the international
competition becomes relatively great.
M. Rodwan Abouharb
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
240 Stubbs Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge LA 70809
## email not listed ##
Benjamin Fordham
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
Binghamton University
PO Box 6000
Binghamton NY 13902-6000
## email not listed ##
The authors would like to thank Belinda Davis, Rich Fording, and David Cingranelli for
their generous assistance. Responsibility for any remaining error is ours.
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