Civitas Outlook
Topic
Economic Dynamism
Published on
June 19, 2025
Contributors
Richard Epstein

Richard Epstein: Law and Economics of Public Sector Unions

This video podcast was originally published by the Commonwealth Foundation.

Renowned legal scholar Richard A. Epstein joins David Osborne to dissect the legal foundations and economic consequences of public sector unionization. From the early days of private labor unions to the rise of government unions, Epstein explains how collective bargaining has evolved—and why public sector collective bargaining, in his view, breach the public trust. They explore everything from the antitrust roots of union restrictions to Roosevelt’s and Kennedy’s diverging views on public unions, the fallout of the Janus decision, and why many reforms fall short. If you care about the future of labor policy, this episode is a must-listen.

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Is Scientific Progress Best Achieved Through Publicly Funded Research Initiatives?

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Economic Dynamism

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We face a basic issue: we do not let cities or communities grow or die.

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Technological change is undoubtedly raising profound metaphysical questions, and thinking clearly about them may be more consequential than ever.

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Proxy Advisors Vote “No” on Texas

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Lives Entwined in the Great Stock Market Collapse

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