Earnings, rents, and competition in the airline labor market

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hirsch, BT; Macpherson, DA
• 署名单位: Trinity University; State University System of Florida; Florida State University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/209953
• 发表日期: 2000
• 页码: 125-155
• 关键词: deregulation; industry; workers; wages; mechanics; unions

摘要

Transformation of the airline labor market continues long after deregulation. Airline wages changed little immediately following deregulation, implying either the absence of regulatory rents or maintenance of product market power and union strength. Analysis for 1973-97, however, indicates that prior to recent gains, the relative earnings of air transport workers decreased markedly during the latter half of the 1980s and the early 1990s. Some of the earnings advantage of airline workers represents returns to occupational skills and worker-specific quality. Labor rents are attributable largely to union bargaining power, which, in turn, is constrained by the financial health of carriers.