Labor and the Robin Hood Paradox Democracy and

Labor and the Robin Hood Paradox Democracy and the Workplace Symposium University of Nevada, Las Vegas, February 24, 2012 Matthew Dimick, SUNY Buffalo Law School

Do we need labor unions to remedy income inequality?

Redistribution The Robin Hood Paradox “Market” inequality Theory

The Robin Hood Paradox Fact

Redistribution or Social Insurance? Redistribution Incentives for Redistribution “Market” inequality

Redistribution or Social Insurance? Redistribution Incentives for Insurance “Market” inequality

Redistribution or Social Insurance? Redistribution Incentives for Insurance “Market” inequality

Voter Turnout and Campaign Contributions Redistribution Incentives for Redistribution Impact of Money on Redistribution “Market” inequality

Voter Turnout and Campaign Contributions Redistribution Incentives for Redistribution Impact of Money on Redistribution “Market” inequality

Redistribution Insurance and Campaign Finance? “Market” inequality

What Reduces Market Inequality? • Education?

What Reduces Market Inequality? • Education? • Progressive Taxation?

Taxation and Market Inequality

What Reduces Market Inequality? • Education? • Progressive Taxation? • Reverse Causation?

What Reduces Market Inequality? • Education? • Progressive Taxation? • Reverse Causation? • Collective Bargaining?

Collective Bargaining and Market Inequality

Electoral Institutions? • Countries with proportional representation redistribute more than countries with majority representation

Electoral Institutions? • Countries with proportional representation redistribute more than countries with majority representation • Lupu & Pontusson (unpublished): direct effects of electoral rules diminish significantly when the structure of wage inequality is taken into account

Market Inequality and Redistribution: Other Factors? • Institutional Complementarities • Social Solidarity