This book provides a picture of the current economic research on trade unions in an edited collection of recent papers, both theoretical and empirical, concerned with the quantitative analysis of trade unions' behaviour and impact. In particular it compares the results of the most recent theoretical developments with empirical studies in each area of research. The papers are grouped into three sections. The first one is devoted to unions' objectives and membership. The papers included in this section show how to aggregate individual's preferences and how various forms of aggregration can influence membership. The second section analyzes the different contractual set-ups and how they influence the final allocation of the labour market. Furthermore, it shows how a bargaining model can help in the explanation of strikes. The last section introduces the debate on the macroeconomic effects of trade unions on both long run equilibria and stabilization policies. In all sectors, empirical papers follow the theoretical ones in order to ascertain how theory is able to explain the major economic facts.

Over the 1980s unions have lost about 5 million members in OECD countries. The proportion of unionized workers is increasing in the services, public sector and among women. Today, almost two out of five union members are employed in the public sector. Wide differences remain in the levels of unionization in diverse countries, while in the United States, France and Spain union members account now for little more than 10% of the labour force, in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland and Denmark) the corre'sponding figure is between 75 and 85%. In general, rates have been higher in Europe than in North America. Economic analysis is paying increasing attention to these developments and to their policy implications (Edwards, Caronna and Todling, OCDE 1991). Recent progress in economic theory has enabled some light to be cast on the determinants of unionism, on the other hand, efforts aimed at coming to grips with the economic reality of unions have significantly contributed to theoretical advancement by extending and modifying conventional microeconomic wisdom. The reader of this volume will judge whether the insight gained is sufficient, or - as a recent survey concluded ~ the problem has proved to be virtually intractable (Johnson, p. 24). These can be grouped under three headings, corresponding to the three parts of the volume, which will be illustrated in the Introduction.

Through 100's of hours of channeled recordings a Christian father, Joseph Moris, and his Spiritually Intuitive daughter, Marisa Moris, together bring you the Answers that they have been given by the "other side" to questions that we all have had at one time or another in our life such as: Who are we? Where do we come from? Is there life after death? Are we surrounded by passed loved ones? Do Angels really exist? Is Heaven real? Who is God? Do humans exist in other parts of the Universe? In this first book by Joseph and Marisa on the subject of Answers from the "other side" you'll read about this "normal" family's journey through life not knowing that Marisa was a latent medium all along and how complications arose from her eventual gift to channel Heaven. Marisa and Joe are two VERY different authors. Each contribute to this book for VERY different reasons: Joseph through Christianity and Marisa through Spirituality. But each have the same core belief....That belief is in understanding the light of Christ and what that means Answers explains in depth who "Christ" really is Answers is also a very easy read. Even a child of 12 will understand the subjects being exposed in this text. Anyone can comprehend the complicated information that the angels and guides have shared with Joe, through Marisa's trance channeling, for the past 2+ years. As "they" have explained, Joseph has been given the task by "the other side" to metaphorically take "quantum physics" and reduce it to "simple math." Easily understanding the truth being revealed in this book will be, for you the reader, a life changing event We both hope you enjoy it