Data and Code for: The Effects of Import Competition on Unionization

We study direct and indirect effects of Chinese import competition on union membership in the United States, 1990-2014. Import competition in manufacturing induced a modest decline in unionization within manufacturing industries. The magnitude is small because unionized manufacturers competed in higher-quality product segments. Manufacturers in Right-to-Work states experienced more direct competition with low-quality Chinese imports. Outside manufacturing, however, import competition causes an important increase in union membership as less-educated women shift away from retail and towards jobs in healthcare and education where unions are stronger. We calculate that Chinese imports prevented 26% of the union density decline that would have otherwise occurred.<br><br>This archive includes all data and code needed to reproduce the figures and tables in the main text and appendicies.