Wage Distributions by Bargaining Regime: Linked Employer-Employee Data Evidence from Germany

Using linked employer-employee data from the German Structure of Earnings Survey 2001, this paper provides a comprehensive picture of the wage structure in three wage-setting regimes prevalent in the German system of industrial relations. We analyze wage distributions for various labor market subgroups by means of kernel density estimation, variance decompositions, and individual and firm-level wage regressions. Unions' impact through collective and firm-level bargaining mainly works towards a higher wage level and reduced overall and residual wage dispersion. Yet observed effects are considerably heterogeneous across different labor market groups. There is no clear evidence for wage floors formed by collectively bargained low wage brackets which would operate as minimum wages for different groups of workers.Collective wage bargaining, wage structure, kernel density estimation, variance decomposition, wage equations, German Structure of Earnings Survey

Union Density and Varieties of Coverage: The Anatomy of Union Wage Effects in Germany

Collective bargaining in Germany takes place either at the industry level or at the firm level; collective bargaining coverage is much higher than union density; and not all employees in a covered firm are necessarily covered. This institutional setup suggests to explicitly distinguish union power as measured by net union density (NUD) in a labor market segment, coverage at the firm level, and coverage at the individual level. Using linked employer-employee data and applying quantile regressions, this is the first empirical paper which simultaneously analyzes these three dimensions of union influence on the structure of wages. Ceteris paribus, a higher share of employees in a firm covered by industry-wide or firm-level contracts is associated with higher wages. Yet, individual bargaining coverage in a covered firm shows a negative impact both on the wage level and on wage dispersion. A higher union density reinforces the effects of coverage, but the effect of union density is negative at all points in the wage distribution for uncovered employees. In line with an insurance motive, higher union density compresses the wage structure and, at the same time, it is associated with a uniform leftward movement of the distribution for uncovered employees.linked employer-employee data, quantile regression, wage structure, collective bargaining coverage, union density, Structure of Earnings Survey 2001, Germany

Union Density and Varieties of Coverage: The Anatomy of Union Wage Effects in Germany

Collective bargaining in Germany takes place either at the industry level or at the firm level; collective bargaining coverage is much higher than union density; and not all employees in a covered firm are necessarily covered. This institutional setup suggests to distinguish explicitly union power as measured by net union density (NUD) in a labor market segment, coverage at the firm level, and coverage at the individual level. Using linked employer-employee data and applying quantile regressions, this is the first empirical paper which simultaneously analyzes these three dimensions of union influence on the structure of wages. Ceteris paribus, a higher share of employees in a firm covered by industry-wide or firm-level contracts is associated with higher wages. Yet, individual bargaining coverage in a covered firm shows a negative impact both on the wage level and on wage dispersion. A higher union density is negative at all points in the wage distribution for uncovered employees. In line with an insurance motive, higher union density compresses the wage structure and, at the same time, it is associated with a uniform leftward movement of the distribution for uncovered employees.Union density, collective bargaining coverage, wage structure, quantile regression,linked employer-employer data, Structure of Earnings Survey 2001, Germany.

Usage-Based Collection Evaluation with a Curricular Focus

Systematic evaluation of a library’s collection can be a useful tool for collection development. After reviewing three evaluation methods and their usefulness for our small academic library, I undertook a usage-based evaluation, focusing on narrow segments of our collection that served specific undergraduate courses. For each section, I collected data on the number of books owned, number of checkouts in the past four years, and number of unique books used. Using examples from the data, I discuss possible ways to interpret and act on the data. I also note how the knowledge gained from this evaluation fits into the larger toolkit of librarian competencies for collection developmen

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Nesting and Brooding Habitat in Southwestern North Dakota

The habitat of nesting and brooding sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus) was studied 1 April to 25 August 1973 and 1974. The objective of the study was to determine the quality and quantity of vegetation at nest and brood locations of sharp-tailed grouse in relation to available vegetation within pastures. Five range sites, lowland draw, rolling grassland, upland grassland, rocky outcropping, and claypan were studied. Thirty-four females were trapped on dancing grounds and equipped with radio transmitters. Seventeen nests were located by monitoring the movements of transmitter-equipped hens and 26 nests were located through use of cable-chain drag. Height of vegetation was measured at nest sites, at sites where broods were located, and in pastures and range sites with the visual obstruction pole. Species composition, relative frequency, and relative density of vegetation were measure at nest and brood locations using the inclined-point quadrat-method. Regrowth, tame, and native vegetation types were utilized most frequently by nesting and brooding sharp-tail hens. Most nests and broods were found in the rolling grassland range-site. Most nesting sharp-tails were observed in pastures under a deferred-rotation grazing system. Average visual obstruction reading (VCR) was greater than 2.0 at 40 of 43 sharp-tail nests and at least 3.0 for over 75 percent of the brood locations. Vegetation height declined as distance from the nest and brood sites increased to 7 m. Height of vegetation at nest sites was significantly different (p\u3c0.01) at varying distances and directions from the site. Vegetation height at nest and brood locations was correlated to the overall-average vegetation height in rolling grassland range site within pastures during 1973 and 1974. Native grasses occurred most frequently at nesting and brooding areas. Woody plant species were more frequently utilize by broods than nesting hens. Wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) was the only woody species found at nest sites. Use of cover by sharp-tail broods depended upon time of day, habitat available, climatic factors, and amount of disturbance. Hens with broods were found in short-growing vegetation immediately after sunrise and in taller vegetation later in the morning. Relative frequency and density of plant species at nest sites changed at various distances from the sites in 1974. Hens nesting in a particular habitat type were usually surrounded by additional vegetation of the same type. Percentages of the various habitats within 0.4 km of the nest site indicated hens were nesting in areas where on habitat type contained over 50 percent of the area. A significant difference (P\u3c0.01) in vegetation height was found between pastures and between range sites within pastures in 1973 and 1974. Most pastures sampled in 1974 had taller vegetation than 1973 after the vegetative growing period. Most pastures had taller vegetation in the fall of the year than in the spring. Grasslands on the Gorham area could be managed for grazing and sharp-tail habitat by measuring and evaluating cover in range sites as well as in pastures. A management program that increased the average height of vegetation in pastures (minimum VOR of 1.5 within pastures) in the spring would provide taller vegetation for nesting hens and good brooding areas in the summer