Union, efficiency of labour and endogenous growth

Abstract

This paper develops an endogenous growth model with human capital formation and ‘Efficiency Wage Hypothesis’ to investigate the growth effect of unionisation and to analyse properties of optimum income tax rate in the presence of an unionised labour market and with taxation only on labour income. ‘Efficient Bargaining’ model as well as ‘Right to Manage’ model is used to solve the negotiation problem between the labour union and the employer’s association. In both type modelling framework, the growth effect of unionisation is independent of its employment effect; and it depends on its net effect on worker’s efficiency. The growth rate maximizing tax rate on labour income is different from the corresponding welfare maximizing tax rate; and the nature of the growth effect of unionisation is different from its welfare effect