Research Paper Sample on Collective Labor Rights

Introduction

Collective Labor Rights and Income Inequality is a research study that seeks to examine the correlation between collective labor rights and income inequality. The central research question in the article is, “How does the repression or support of collective labor rights affect income inequality?” The primary approach to the research was the worldwide, comparative approach since the two phenomena of interest are of similar groups. Kerrissey (2015) uses the specific term, collective, to differentiate the study from past research that focused on individual labor rights. Income inequality is also considered from a comparative approach, having considered some of its characteristics, including population growth and education. Information drawing the author to the research question is the fact that collective labor rights have proven effective in reducing income inequality. Even so, the correlation is different across various regions – Eastern and Western Europe.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Data Collection

Documents and records were utilized for data collection. Data was collected for 100 developing and already developed nations between 1985 and 2002. The study was cross-sectional as the data collected was from different countries at the same time. The method was important and compatible with comparative research as it offered insight on age-related change. Quantitative research was preferred for the study as the author utilized the collective labor rights index and the Gini Coefficient of income inequality from datasets across various regions in the world. The patterns, relationships, and trends were examined through various methods, including statistical techniques such as the measures of central tendency, fixed-effects models (FEM), and random-effects models (REM). The author acknowledged the threat to validity by noting the possibility to have an omitted variable bias, the modeling techniques as well as the Gini coefficient. Even so, Kerrissey (2015) uses data replication for other regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean, to make corollary analyses.

Results

The results of the study were such that there was a strong correlation between collective labor rights and income inequality. The relationship is described as curvilinear. Kerrissey (2015) splits her research into five models, which are all based on the research question. The first model reports demographic and economic effects on inequality; the second outlines the internal development model; the third connotes information on collective labor rights; the fourth outlines foreign direct investment (FDI) and state characteristics; and the fifth offers data on the polynomial of GDP among other factors. Upon an examination of every model, data proved that strong collective labor rights were significant determinants of low-income inequality—nonetheless, weak labor rights linked to higher income inequality across various countries around the globe.

Conclusion

The research was important as it was the first one to examine relationships utilizing class-based actors. Collective labor rights are one of the least researched topics yet important as it differentiates countries. Collective labor rights are also critical as they encompass every person, including the indigenous people. The opinion and interests of every person can be aired without haste through collective nature. Besides, political and economic organizations can be formed easily to present the people's grievances. The examined relationship is also particularly important for people using the power resources approach for their studies. It offers an insight into how collective labor rights as a class-based actor affects various economic variables such as income inequality, poverty, and wage shares. The research can be used to offer insights on the effect of power and politics on income inequality.

References

Kerrissey, J. (2015). Collective labor rights and income inequality. American Sociological Review, 80(3), 626-653. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122415583649