The Methodological Challenges of Measuring the Duration of Strikes: Insights From Canada 1960–2024
本文分析了测量罢工持续时间的两种方法（按损失工作日计算与按平均天数计算）的根本差异，利用加拿大1960-2024年官方数据论证应分别研究这两种指标。
ABSTRACT This article examines the methodological challenges involved with measuring the duration of strikes. On the one hand, several studies opt to calculate the average ‘duration’ of stoppages by dividing the number of working days lost by the maximum number of employees involved in work stoppages. On the other hand, many other studies use an average measure of the duration of strikes calculated by either using the arithmetic mean or median number of strike days taken across all strikes in a given period. While both measures have their use, they fundamentally measure different things. This article aims to theoretically explain the important difference between these two measures of strike duration, before presenting empirical arguments in favour of studying these measures of duration separately (primarily drawing on official strike data from Canada, 1960–2024).