The Effect of Right to Work Laws on Union Membership and School Resources: Evidence from 1942–2017.

This article examines the long-term effects of Right to Work (RTW) policies on teachers' union membership and school resources in the United States from 1942 to 2017. Using an original historical data set and a dynamic event study approach, it finds that RTW policies reduce teachers' union membership by approximately 43% and decrease per pupil educational expenditures by nearly $800, with these effects becoming pronounced about 10 years after policy enactment. The study also shows that reductions in school spending are largely driven by declines in union membership, highlighting the role of teachers' unions in influencing educational finance. These findings provide context for understanding the gradual impact of the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision, which established a RTW framework for public sector workers, and suggest that union strength and related school funding changes unfold slowly over time.