Employees In Right-to-Work States Are Richer

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 2/3/2013 | Tom Gantert

[MichCapCon]

Scores of right-to-work critics ranging from politicians to economists have cited lower per-capita incomes in right-to-work states as why the new law is not good for Michigan.

However, not factoring in cost-of-living exposes a flaw in that analysis, said Mackinac Center for Public Policy Fiscal Analyst James Hohman. Once that is considered, Hohman said the per-capita income is higher in right-to-work states than non-right-to-work states.

For example, Texas per-capita income was $37,098 but would have a purchasing power of $49,700 in the state of New York in 2007, according to Hohman’s analysis. New York’s per-capita income was $47,852.

Hohman found that in terms of Michigan dollars in 2000, right-to-work states had 4.1 percent higher per-capita personal incomes than non-right-to-work states when factoring in cost of living. Michigan was considered a non-right-to-work state because the law was passed in late December 2012. Hohman said the right-work-states didn’t surpass non-right-to-work states until 2003.

“One of the most basic arguments repeated time and time again by right-to-work opposition is that Michigan is going to lose income by passing this law,” Hohman said. “That just isn’t the case. When you adjust for what a dollar can get you, the difference reverses itself."

Hohman used the cost of living index done by political scientists William Berry, Richard Fording and Russell Hanson. They adjusted for cost-of-living in every state from 1960 to 2007.

The idea is that costs vary state to state. For instance, gas on Friday in Connecticut was $3.66 per gallon compared to $3.37 in Michigan. Connecticut’s gas tax is 6.1 cents higher than Michigan’s and Connecticut’s sale tax is .35 percent higher than Michigan’s. Prices on items like milk, eggs, peanut butter, Tylenol, detergent, diapers and other goods are also higher.

[thackney]

not factoring in cost-of-living exposes a flaw in that analysis

BTTT

My first job out of college, I took an offer that was 10% less total dollars for more than a 10% increase in the dollars left after taxes and housing. And those extra dollars were now being spent in a more economic environment with a higher standard of living (from my viewpoint at least).

[cripplecreek]

If you aren't paying union taxes you should be richer.

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