Right to Work Creates Prosperity, Ohio Families Poorer Without It

A hypothetical average Ohio family of four would be making $12,000 more a year today if Ohio had adopted a right-to-work law in 1977, concludes a report released by the Buckeye Institute.  The Buckeye Institute’s study by Ohio University  economics professor Richard Vedder says, “Arguably the single biggest impediment to an improved labor environment is the lack of a right-to-work law which guarantees workers the freedom to join, or not join, labor unions as they so choose.”

Here are some startling statistics from the report:

• From 1977 to 2008 the inflation-adjusted personal income of Ohioans grew just over 35 percent compared to 55 percent for the nation as a whole.
• Ohio had the third lowest rate of growth (as measured by personal income) during this period. Only Michigan and West Virginia saw lower growth in personal income.
• During this period per capita income in Ohio fell from slightly over 1 percent higher than the national average to around 11percent below the national average.