The 9 million-job shortfall induced by the late-2007 economic recession has caused states to rethink policies on employment and income growth. One proposed policy change in many struggling states is the implementation of right-to-work (RTW) laws, which limit the ability of labor unions to collect dues from the workers they represent and influence the conditions of employment for a workplace. The empirical evidence on the effect of adopting a RTW law on labor market outcomes and state budgets, however, is both varied and mixed. If the adoption of a RTW law is to be in the policy discussion for another state, the state’s voters, residents, workers, and policymakers deserve information on the probable impact of such action.
