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Minimum Wage and Real Wage Inequality: Evidence from Pass-Through to Retail Prices

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  • Justin H. Leung

    (National University of Singapore Business School)

Abstract

This paper considers the impact of the minimum wage on both labor and product markets using detailed store-level scanner data. I provide empirical evidence that a 10% increase in the minimum wage raises grocery store prices by 0.6% to 0.8% and suggest that the minimum wage not only raises labor costs but also affects product demand, especially in poorer regions. This points to novel channels of heterogeneity in pass-through that have distributional consequences, with key implications for real wage inequality. I also find that price rigidity within retail chains ameliorates these effects, reducing the pass-through elasticity for retail prices by about 60%.

Suggested Citation

  • Justin H. Leung, 2021. "Minimum Wage and Real Wage Inequality: Evidence from Pass-Through to Retail Prices," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(4), pages 754-769, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:4:p:754-769
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00915
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ying Liang, 2024. "Firms' Risk Adjustments to Minimum Wage: Financial Leverage and Labor Share Trade-off," Papers 2408.03659, arXiv.org.
    2. Sebastian Link, 2019. "The Price and Employment Response of Firms to the Introduction of Minimum Wages," CESifo Working Paper Series 7575, CESifo.
    3. Gabriele Borg & Diego Gentile Passaro & Santiago Hermo, 2022. "From Workplace to Residence: The Spillover Effects of Minimum Wage Policies on Local Housing Markets," Papers 2208.01791, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2024.
    4. Regmi, Krishna, 2024. "Minimum Wages and the Uptake of Supplemental Security Income," IZA Discussion Papers 17074, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Kunaschk, Max, 2024. "The effects of minimum wages on employment and prices—Evidence from the hairdressing sector," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Marianna Kudlyak & Murat Tasci & Didem Tuzemen, 2019. "Minimum Wage Increases and Vacancies," Working Papers 19-30R, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, revised 21 Apr 2022.
    7. Arindrajit Dube & Attila Lindner, 2024. "Minimum Wages in the 21st Century," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2524, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    8. Calderón, Mariana & Cortés, Josué & Pérez Pérez, Jorge & Salcedo, Alejandrina, 2023. "Disentangling the Effects of Large Minimum Wage and VAT Changes on Prices: Evidence from Mexico," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    9. Yim, Hyejin & Katare, Bhagyashree & Cuffey, Joel, 2022. "Does Increasing Minimum Wage Impact Service Quality? Evidence from Restaurant Food Safety Inspections," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322411, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. Abrahams, Scott, 2024. "Downward minimum wage rigidity: Evidence from a temporary four-month increase in St. Louis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 30-47.
    11. Arindrajit Dube & Attila Lindner, 2024. "Minimum Wages in the 21st Century," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2524, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    12. Dami'an Vergara, 2022. "Minimum Wages and Optimal Redistribution," Papers 2202.00839, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2022.
    13. Richards, Timothy J. & Paudel, Ujjwol, 2024. "Minimum Wages and Pass-Through," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 343648, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    14. Luis E. Arango & Jesús A. Botero & Eleonora Dávalos & Daniela Gallo & Estefany Hernández, 2022. "Efectos fiscales del salario mínimo en Colombia," Borradores de Economia 1216, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    15. Datta, Nikhil & Machin, Stephen, 2024. "Government Contracting and Living Wages > Minimum Wages," IZA Discussion Papers 17117, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Aleksandra Majchrowska, 2022. "Does minimum wage affect inflation?," Ekonomista, Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne, issue 4, pages 417-436.
    17. Carl Hase & Johannes Kasinger, 2024. "The Pass-through of Retail Crime," Papers 2407.07201, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2024.
    18. Leung, Justin H. & Seo, Hee Kwon, 2023. "How do government transfer payments affect retail prices and welfare? Evidence from SNAP," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    19. Leung,Justin H. & Hee Kwon (Samuel) Seo, 2022. "How Do Government Transfer Payments Affect Retail Prices and Welfare ? Evidence from SNAP," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10075, The World Bank.

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