The distribution of union size: Canada, 1913–2014

I study the size distribution of Canadian trade unions and whether it is consistent with power law (Pareto) or other heavy tailed distributions (the lognormal and stretched exponential), using data from selected years between 1913 and 2014. I assess the fit of these distributions and undertake some model comparison tests. I also discuss some mechanisms that could give rise to these distributions in trade union size as well as the implications of my findings for unions and future research.