Unionisation Structure and Outward Foreign Direct Investment

We analyse the effects of the unionisation structure on the incentive for outward foreign direct investment (FDI) and on union utility. The incentive for outward FDI is higher under a centralised union than under decentralised unions, irrespective of the number of firms in the industry. If the number of firms undertaking FDI is higher under a centralised union than under decentralised unions, wages and the union utility can be higher under the latter unionisation structure, depending on the competitiveness of the industry. There may not be a conflict of interest between domestic labour union and domestic industry about the unionisation structure.