Does anyone have a good, unbiased analysis of public pay, pensions and benefits?
Don't get me wrong - I am absolutely not in favor of the actions in WI, OH and elsewhere to kill unions and eliminate collective bargaining. At all.
I also understand that the biggest issue in public deficits at all levels is tax revenue, and am appalled to know that WI has a deficit caused primarily by a corporate tax reduction, but wants to cover the gap with lower payroll expense. I get all that.
However, it seems to me (and I really don't know) that the public sector is way behind the private sector in asking employees to participate in funding their own pension and medical benefits.
I'd like to see some real studies on the issue. Are public benefits better? If so, is there a wage & salary tradeoff?
What is the right public policy, and why? If public benefits are out of line with the private sector, should they be adjusted over time? How?
This is not an attack. I really don't know, and want to.