期刊-NBER美国国民经济研究局-Spring1988_48页_903kb

NBER Reporter Summary - Spring 1988

Core Content

The NBER Reporter for Spring 1988 highlights the research activities and findings of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in the field of Labor Studies. It provides an overview of key projects, research themes, and comparative analyses across different economic sectors and countries.

Main Research Projects

• Public Sector Unionism: The NBER has explored the impact of public sector unionism, including how unionization and industrial relations differ between public and private sectors. The decline in private sector union density is attributed not only to structural changes but also to employer behavior.
• Private Sector Unionism: A project is ongoing to analyze the decline in union density in the U.S. private sector, focusing on factors like employer strategies and economic conditions.
• Pensions in the Labor Market: David A. Wise directed research on pensions, leading to the publication of a volume on the topic.
• Government Pay and Payrolls: Another major project, also under Wise's direction, resulted in a published volume on government pay and payroll structures.

Key Research Findings

Unionism and Productivity

• Steven G. Allen found that unionized private sector construction shows higher productivity levels than nonunionized sectors, but slower productivity growth.
• John M. Abowd demonstrated that collective bargaining has minimal negative impact on enterprise efficiency, as measured by shareholder value.
• David Card's study on airline deregulation revealed that unionized mechanics shifted to smaller airlines and experienced wage declines.

Wage Determination

• Research by Dickens, Katz, and others suggests that wage differentials are influenced by factors other than human capital, such as efficiency wages and labor market segmentation.
• The dual labor market theory is explored, indicating that wage differentials may arise from segmented labor markets.
• Studies by Rosen and Lazear examine optimal compensation schemes, including deferred wages and tournaments, and their impact on worker behavior.

Poverty and Unemployment

• Rebecca M. Blank found little evidence that welfare dependence increases dependency on public assistance.
• David T. Ellwood and Summers rejected the idea that the welfare system is a primary cause of poverty.
• Victor R. Fuchs studied the feminization of poverty, noting that it began in the 1960s and has remained relatively stable since.
• Brian Hall and Freeman used data on homeless persons to estimate the scale and nature of homelessness in the U.S.
• Research by Bloom and others on marriage patterns and retirement behavior has received significant national attention.

International Comparisons

• The NBER has expanded its research to include international labor markets, especially in OECD countries.
• Collaboration with economists from Canada and Australia has led to studies on the impact of trade and immigration on labor markets, including effects on wages and employment.
• Comparative studies with Japan focus on wage structures, labor turnover, and the bonus system, which is linked to the "share economy."
• Research on youth unemployment across OECD countries indicates that differences in unemployment rates between the U.S. and Canada are not fully explained by institutional factors, but are influenced by U.S. economic shocks.

Tax Reform and Taxpayer Behavior

• Lawrence B. Lindsey analyzed the effects of tax reforms in the 1980s, particularly the Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) and the Tax Reform Act (TRA).
• The ERTA reduced the top marginal tax rate from 70% to 50%, and later to 33% under TRA, significantly altering taxpayer behavior.
• The TAXSIM model showed that the tax cuts led to a $38 billion increase in taxable wages and $14 billion increase in federal tax revenues due to supply-side effects.
• Capital gains tax rate reductions had a substantial impact on capital gains realizations, with a 1% increase in the after-tax share leading to a 5% rise in capital gains income.
• The TRA86 increased the capital gains tax rate to 26%, potentially above the revenue-maximizing level.
• The new tax law also raised the cost of charitable giving, especially for middle- and upper-income taxpayers, by reducing tax incentives and the number of itemizers.

Other Research Areas

• NBER economists are also examining optimal firm behavior, labor contracts, retirement policy, unemployment as a discipline device, workplace crime monitoring, and hiring procedures.
• The Bureau is working to collect micro data from several OECD countries to support comparative labor market analysis.

NBER Structure and Leadership

• The NBER is a private, nonprofit research organization founded in 1920.
• Key directors include Richard N. Rosett (Chairman), Martin Feldstein (President), and others from various institutions and organizations.
• The Reporter is produced for informational purposes and is not copyrighted, allowing free reproduction with proper attribution.

Summary of Contributions

• The NBER has made significant contributions to understanding unionism, wage determination, poverty, and international labor market comparisons.
• The 1980s tax reforms had notable effects on taxpayer behavior, capital gains, and charitable giving, with mixed revenue outcomes.
• Research on labor markets continues to focus on structural changes, employer influence, and comparative analysis across countries.

Conclusion

The Spring 1988 NBER Reporter reflects a broad and deep engagement with labor economics, highlighting both domestic and international research efforts. It underscores the complex interplay between economic policy, labor market dynamics, and social outcomes, offering insights into unionism, wage setting, and the broader implications of tax reforms.