Résumés
Summary
We examine the relationship between union power and redistribution in Canada’s ten provinces between 1986 and 2014. Subnational jurisdictions are thus the focus of research questions that have previously been addressed at the international level. Multilevel models with time-series cross-sectional data are used to estimate the long-term association between union density and redistribution through provincial transfer payments and income taxes. We found that higher union density correlates with considerably more redistribution over the long term but not over the short term. This finding is confirmed by three distinct measures of inequality and poverty reduction, an indication that it is quite robust. The association is significant for the entire study period and for its second half. This finding is consistent with power resource theory in its original form, but not with more recent work in that area or with comparative political economy scholarship, which generally now neglects or downplays the impact of organized labour on social and economic policy outcomes. Our findings suggest a need to re-assess the diminished interest of recent researchers in the political influence of organized labour. It will also interest scholars in other countries where tax and transfer systems are decentralized, and where the impact of organized labour on such measures has been understudied at the subnational level. Additionally, we show that unionized voters in Canada are more favourably disposed than their non-unionized counterparts toward redistribution and toward pro-redistribution political parties. Unions may consequently affect redistribution in part by socializing their members to favour it. This possibility is advanced with preliminary data in this paper. We argue that further scholarly attention is both required and deserved on this subject in Canada and elsewhere.
Keywords:
- Inequality and poverty reduction,
- Subnational jurisdictions,
- Organized labour and social equity,
- Power resource theory,
- Time-series cross-sectional analysis
Résumé
Cette étude porte sur la relation entre le pouvoir syndical et la redistribution des revenus dans les provinces canadiennes. En contribuant à la littérature sur l’inégalité, déjà abondante, elle met en évidence le rôle important du syndicalisme dans la réduction des inégalités à long terme. Ce constat, conforme à la théorie des ressources de pouvoir dans sa forme originale, intéressera les étudiants en relations industrielles qui s’intéressent au rôle du syndicalisme dans la promotion de l’équité sociale. Par rapport à la recherche en politique sociale, cette étude innove en soulignant le rôle des acteurs infranationaux dans la réduction ou le maintien de l’inégalité, car les études antérieures se limitaient presque exclusivement au niveau national. De plus, elle démontre qu’au Canada la redistribution, ainsi que les partis politiques la prônant, gagne plus de soutien électoral chez les syndiqués que chez les non-syndiqués. Il se peut, donc, que les syndicats influencent la redistribution, en partie par une socialisation redistributionniste de leurs membres. Cette possibilité mérite une plus grande attention de la part des chercheurs.
Précis
Cette étude porte sur la relation entre le pouvoir syndical et la redistribution dans les dix provinces du Canada entre 1986 et 2014. Ces juridictions infranationales font alors l’objet des questions de recherche qui se posaient antérieurement au niveau international. Afin d’évaluer la relation à long terme entre le taux de syndicalisation et la redistribution via les transferts provinciaux et l’impôt sur le revenu, nous utilisons des modèles multiniveaux reposant sur des données transversales de séries chronologiques. Il en ressort une forte corrélation entre le taux de syndicalisation et la redistribution à long terme, mais pas celle à court terme. Ce résultat est confirmé par trois mesures distinctes de l’inégalité et de la réduction de la pauvreté, ce qui indique une corrélation robuste. Cette dernière est significative dans toute la période étudiée, prise collectivement, et dans la deuxième moitié de cette période, prise séparément. La relation syndicalisme-redistribution appuie la théorie des ressources de pouvoir, dans sa forme originale, mais pas les travaux récents s’inspirant de cette perspective, ni les études récentes de l’économie politique comparée; en général, ces dernières négligent ou minimisent l’impact du syndicalisme sur l’élaboration des politiques sociales et économiques. Il faudrait donc réévaluer la baisse d’intérêt des chercheurs récents pour l’influence politique du syndicalisme. De plus, ces résultats intéresseraient les chercheurs des pays où le système fiscal et de transfert est décentralisé et où l’impact du syndicalisme sur la redistribution demeure sous-étudié au niveau infranational. Enfin, nous démontrons que les syndiqués canadiens, comparés à leurs homologues non-syndiqués, soutiennent davantage la redistribution et les partis politiques la prônant. Il se peut, donc, que les syndicats influencent la redistribution, en partie par une socialisation redistributionniste de leurs membres. Cette possibilité, qui repose ici sur des données préliminaires, mérite et exige une plus grande attention de la part des chercheurs au Canada et ailleurs.
Mots-clés:
- inégalité et réduction de la pauvreté,
- juridictions infranationales,
- syndicalisme et équité sociale,
- théorie des ressources de pouvoir,
- analyse transversale de séries chronologiques
Parties annexes
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