WAGES IN RAIL MARKETS: DEREGULATION, MERGERS, AND CHANGING NETWORKS CHARACTERISTICS

The Staggers Act of 1980 largely deregulated the Class I Railroad industry and has had profound effects on labor. Between 1978 and 1994, employment in the industry decreased by about 60%, while real wages (average compensation) increased by over 40%. Earlier research examined employment effects; in this paper the authors develop and estimate compensation effects using firm level data. By using firm level data, the authors can identify effects of partial deregulation, an accompanying and massive consolidation movement, and changes in firm operating and network characteristics. Their estimates suggest that mergers contributed 5% to 15%; partial deregulation contributed about 20%; and changes in firm operating and network characteristics contributed 4% to 5% to the overall increase in wages.

• Record URL:
  http://ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=398
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/59797
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052
• Authors:
  • Davis, D E
  • Wilson, W W
• Publication Date: 2002-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 48 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deregulation; Employment; Labor; Markets; Mergers; Operations; Railroads; Wages
• Identifier Terms: Staggers Rail Act of 1980
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00943811
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UGPTI Publication No. 146
• Files: NTL, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 3 2003 12:00AM