Political Science Faculty Publications

Do collective bargaining rights save lives? A rare event analysis of firefighter fatalities in the United States

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Risk analysis research often focuses on regulation, assessment, and management rather than risk governance. This study contributes to the risk governance literature by analyzing the relationship between collective bargaining rights for firefighters and firefighter fatalities in the United States. Using state-level data from 2009 through 2018, this analysis shows that states with duty-to-bargain rights for firefighters have fewer firefighter fatalities than those without duty-to-bargain rights. Further, this analysis shows that the benefit of duty-to-bargain rights dissipates in states with a high percentage of fully volunteer fire departments. This study concludes with a discussion of the implications for fire departments and public policy.

Publication Date

2021

Publication Title

Risk, Hazards, & Crisis in Public Policy

Publisher

Wiley

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/rhc3.12224

Volume

13

Issue

2

Start Page No.

100

End Page No.

117

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