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Minimum Wages and Poverty in a Developing Country: Simulations from Indonesia's Household Survey

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  • Bird, Kelly
  • Manning, Chris

Abstract

Summary This study focuses on minimum wages, income distribution, and poverty, taking Indonesia as a case study. A simulation approach assesses who benefits and who pays for minimum wage increases. Among the poor, a minimum wages increase boosts net incomes for 21% of the households, while it results in net losses to 79% of the households. The impact is slightly less severe when there are job losses. Although minimum wage increases are mildly progressive (the non-poor pay a higher share of the costs), they are unlikely to be an effective antipoverty instrument in developing countries like Indonesia.

Suggested Citation

  • Bird, Kelly & Manning, Chris, 2008. "Minimum Wages and Poverty in a Developing Country: Simulations from Indonesia's Household Survey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 916-933, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:36:y:2008:i:5:p:916-933
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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