Journal Article

Why minimum wage hikes may not reduce employment

Abstract: Recent research has challenged the conventional wisdom among economists that increases in the minimum wage reduce employment among low-wage workers. Although some studies continue to find negative effects, others suggest that moderately raising the minimum wage may not reduce employment. The author of this article describes and evaluates several models that may explain the controversial recent findings and proposes avenues for future research that would help determine the validity of these models. ; The author notes that if the recent findings that minimum wage increases do not always adversely affect employment are correct, economists may need to reconsider their views of how labor markets work. In addition, research on other effects of minimum wage increases is needed. For example, the distributional consequences are important, particularly if higher-skilled workers displace lower-skilled workers when the minimum wage is raised. The recent findings challenging traditional thinking about employment and the minimum wage should be taken as the starting point for a larger examination of the effects of the minimum wage rather than an end to the debate.

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Part of Series: Economic Review

Publication Date: 1998

Volume: 83

Issue: Q 2

Pages: 18-28