Income inequality intersects with state-level policies and market forces.

Why This Matters:

This study reassesses how political mechanisms influence economic disparities. We explore the role of right-to-work (RTW) legislation adoption.

We leverage variation in US labor laws, particularly RTW implementation timelines across states. Using panel data methods, we test whether RTW adoption drives inequality.

Our findings show limited connection between RTW passage and income growth trends.

This suggests political theories about state-market dynamics and inequality need empirical grounding.

Key Takeaways:

• RTW laws' impact on wage inequality is overstated by common narratives.

• Political mechanisms driving inequality require rigorous testing beyond assumptions.