Question 1

A strike,or the threat of one,is most likely to be effective when
A)demand for the firm's product is strong.
B)foreign competition for the product is high.
C)the firm has a high product inventory.
D)demand for the product produced by the union workers is highly elastic.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

Which of the following states had the lowest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers in 2010?
A)New York,Hawaii,and Alaska
B)South Carolina,North Carolina,and Arkansas
C)Illinois,Michigan,and Ohio
D)Nevada,Hawaii,and Alaska

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 South Carolina had the lowest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers at 3.9%. North Carolina and Arkansas also had low union membership rates at 3.2% and 5.2% respectively. All other answer choices had at least one state with a higher union membership rate than the lowest state in this answer choice.

Question 3

Since 1970,union membership,as a percent of the labor force,has
A)remained virtually unchanged.
B)increased slightly.
C)declined steadily.
D)increased significantly.

Accepted Answer

The percentage of union membership in the labor force has steadily declined since 1970. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1970, 23.7% of workers were union members, while in 2020, only 10.8% were union members.

Question 4

Laws that prohibit collective bargaining agreements requiring a worker to join a union as a condition of employment are called
A)collective bargaining agreements.
B)minimum wage laws.
C)union shop laws.
D)right-to-work laws.

Accepted Answer

Right-to-work laws prohibit collective bargaining agreements from requiring that workers must join a union as a condition of employment in a particular workplace. This means that workers can choose not to join a union even if there is one operating in the workplace.

Question 5

Which of the following groups is most highly unionized?
A)private wage and salary workers
B)government employees
C)technical,sales,and service workers
D)women

Accepted Answer

Government employees are the most highly unionized group, with around 33.9% of them being union members in 2020. This is significantly higher than the unionization rates for private wage and salary workers (just over 6%) and technical, sales, and service workers (around 10%). There is no data available on the unionization rates specifically for women, as it varies depending on their occupation and industry.

Question 6

Most studies indicate that during the last two decades,the wages of union members have been approximately
A)5 percent higher than the wages of similar nonunion workers.
B)14 to 19 percent higher than the wages of similar nonunion workers.
C)34 to 39 percent higher than the wages of similar nonunion workers.
D)64 to 69 percent higher than the wages of similar nonunion workers.

Accepted Answer

Most studies indicate that during the last two decades, the wages of union members have been approximately 14 to 19 percent higher than the wages of similar nonunion workers.

Question 7

Between 1960 and 2010,the proportion of workers belonging to a union
A)decreased substantially in the private sector.
B)was approximately constant in the private sector.
C)decreased substantially in the government sector.
D)was approximately constant in the government sector.

Accepted Answer

The proportion of workers belonging to a union decreased significantly in the private sector over the period, while there was no significant change in the government sector.

Question 8

Which of the following is true?
A)Women are more highly unionized than men.
B)A higher percent of white workers belong to unions than do African-American workers.
C)The proportion of government employees belonging to a union is substantially higher than the proportion of private-sector workers who are union members.
D)There is little difference in incidence of unionization among occupational categories.

Accepted Answer

According to statistics, government employees have a higher incidence of unionization compared to private-sector workers. Options A and B are not correct as men are more unionized than women and there are lower percentages of white workers in unions compared to African-American workers. Option D is also incorrect as there are significant differences in unionization rates based on different occupational categories.

Question 9

Which of the following states had the highest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers in 2010?
A)New York,Hawaii,and Alaska
B)South Carolina,North Carolina,and Mississippi
C)Arkansas,North Carolina,and Texas
D)California,Florida,and Georgia

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, New York had the highest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers at 24.2%, followed by Hawaii at 22.1% and Alaska at 21.8%. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 10

What percentage of the non-farm labor force in the United States belonged to a labor union in 2010?
A)less than 10 percent
B)approximately 12 percent
C)approximately 28 percent
D)more than 40 percent

Accepted Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 12 percent of the non-farm labor force in the United States belonged to a labor union in 2010.

Question 11

Firms will be much more willing to consent to significant wage increases when
A)right-to-work laws are present.
B)the demand for the final product is weak.
C)the firm has low product inventory.
D)the demand for the final product is elastic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Firms will be much more willing to...

Question 12

Which of the following most accurately indicates changes in the size of the union sector in the United States?
A)As a share of the labor force,union membership grew substantially during 1935 through 1955 but has declined substantially since the mid-1950s.
B)As a share of the labor force,union membership declined substantially during 1935 through 1955 but has grown substantially since the mid-1950s.
C)As a share of the labor force,union membership has steadily grown from less than 10 percent in 1935 to more than 40 percent today.
D)Union membership has been approximately 20 percent of the labor force during the last five decades.

Accepted Answer

According to the information given in the question, union membership grew substantially during 1935 through 1955 but has declined substantially since the mid-1950s. Therefore, option A is the most accurate answer. Options B and C are incorrect as they state growth in union membership since the mid-1950s whereas it has been in decline. Option D is also incorrect as it states a constant union membership of approximately 20 percent for the last five decades, which is not supported by the information provided.

Question 13

The demand for union labor is usually determined by
A)the number of union members.
B)the strength of the union.
C)the total value of the union labor in the production process.
D)market conditions outside the union's direct control.

Accepted Answer

The demand for union labor is typically influenced by market conditions such as the state of the economy, industry trends, and the availability and cost of non-union labor. These factors are generally outside of the union's direct control and can impact the demand for union labor.

Question 14

Union membership as a percent of the nonagricultural labor force ____ in 1970 to approximately ____ in 2010.
A)fell from approximately 30 percent;12 percent
B)rose from approximately 15 percent;22 percent
C)fell from more than 40 percent;10 percent
D)rose from approximately 8 percent;40 percent

Accepted Answer

The answer of Union membership as a percent of the...

Question 15

Which of the following is most likely to belong to a union?
A)a government employee
B)a salesperson
C)a chef at a four-star restaurant
D)a taxi driver

Accepted Answer

Government employees are more likely to belong to a union because they have stronger job security and benefits, which makes union representation more appealing to them.

Question 16

While most industrial categories have experienced a decline in the percentage of workers unionized,which one of the following categories has seen a significant increase in unionization?
A)retail trades
B)the hotel and restaurant industry
C)the government sector
D)automobile manufacturing

Accepted Answer

The government sector has seen a significant increase in unionization, with 33.9% of government employees belonging to a union in 2020 compared to 10.8% of workers in the private sector. This is due to the fact that government employees are more likely to be protected by labor laws and have access to collective bargaining.

Question 17

Which of the following states had the highest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers in 2010?
A)New York
B)Arkansas
C)North Carolina
D)California

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, New York had the highest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers at 24.2%.

Question 18

Which of the following factors will make it easier for a labor union to increase the wages of its members?
A)a highly inelastic demand for the products produced by the union labor
B)a readily available supply of similar products produced by nonunion labor
C)low tariffs and strong competition from foreign firms producing the products supplied by the union labor
D)a reduction in the demand for the products produced by the union labor

Accepted Answer

A highly inelastic demand for the products produced by the union labor means that consumers are willing to pay higher prices for the goods or services produced by the union labor, which gives the union more bargaining power in negotiations for higher wages. In contrast, choices B and C suggest that there is readily available competition, which could make it more difficult for the union to bargain for higher wages. Option D suggests a decrease in demand for the union's products, which would also reduce the union's bargaining power.

Question 19

How does competition from nonunion firms and foreign producers affect the ability of a union to increase the wages of its members?
A)Such competition reduces the ability of a union to achieve wage increases.
B)Such competition does not affect the ability of a union to achieve wage increases.
C)Such competition will increase the strength of a union if it produces a product sold in the domestic market but reduce the strength of the union if it produces an export product.
D)The effect of this type of competition will be entirely dependent on the elasticity of demand for labor in the domestic market.

Accepted Answer

Competition from nonunion firms and foreign producers reduces the bargaining power of the union as employers have more options to choose from. This gives employers the ability to threaten to hire nonunion workers or move production overseas if the union demands higher wages or benefits. As a result, unions are less likely to successfully negotiate higher wages and may need to accept lower wages or make other concessions to remain competitive.

Question 20

As the football season approaches,the threat of a player strike would give
A)both players and management an incentive to bargain seriously.
B)only the players an incentive to bargain seriously.
C)only management an incentive to bargain seriously.
D)neither party much incentive to bargain seriously.

Accepted Answer

If there is a threat of a player strike, both players and management would have an incentive to bargain seriously. Players would want to ensure their concerns are being addressed and management would want to prevent a strike and the loss of revenue that would come with it. This would create a situation where both parties would be motivated to work towards a resolution to avoid a strike.

Quiz 40: Do Labor Unions Increase the Wages of Workers

A strike,or the threat of one,is most likely to be effective when

Which of the following states had the lowest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers in 2010?

Since 1970,union membership,as a percent of the labor force,has

Laws that prohibit collective bargaining agreements requiring a worker to join a union as a condition of employment are called

Which of the following groups is most highly unionized?

Most studies indicate that during the last two decades,the wages of union members have been approximately

Between 1960 and 2010,the proportion of workers belonging to a union

Which of the following is true?

Which of the following states had the highest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers in 2010?

What percentage of the non-farm labor force in the United States belonged to a labor union in 2010?

Firms will be much more willing to consent to significant wage increases when

Which of the following most accurately indicates changes in the size of the union sector in the United States?

The demand for union labor is usually determined by

Union membership as a percent of the nonagricultural labor force in 1970 to approximately in 2010.

Which of the following is most likely to belong to a union?

While most industrial categories have experienced a decline in the percentage of workers unionized,which one of the following categories has seen a significant increase in unionization?

Which of the following states had the highest incidence of union membership as a percent of all wage and salary workers in 2010?

Which of the following factors will make it easier for a labor union to increase the wages of its members?

How does competition from nonunion firms and foreign producers affect the ability of a union to increase the wages of its members?

As the football season approaches,the threat of a player strike would give