The Determinants of US Foreign Production

Based on an analysis of industry by region data the author finds little evidence that U.S. unions have been a significant factor in the decision of U.S. firms to produce abroad. Additional evidence suggests that U.S. foreign production may have had a negligible effect on the domestic unionization rate. Corresponding with previous research, the results do indicate that comparative advantage, monopoly power, and foreign tariffs are important determinants of U.S. foreign production.

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