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Assessing the Distributive Effects of Minimum Wage

Author

Listed:
  • Fernando Borraz

    (Banco Central del Uruguay
    Departamento de Economía, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de la República
    Universidad de Montevideo)

  • Nicolás González Pampillón

    (Universitat de Barcelona
    IEB)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of Uruguay’s sharp minimum wage increases after 2004 amidst the country’s slight wage inequality decrease. We found that the minimum wage increase has contributed to the reduction of wage inequality for formal workers mainly. However, we also found a negative impact on employment outside the capital city, Montevideo, and observed a reduction in working hours. These results raise doubts about the effectiveness of minimum wage as a redistribution instrument in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Borraz & Nicolás González Pampillón, 2017. "Assessing the Distributive Effects of Minimum Wage," Documentos de trabajo 2017002, Banco Central del Uruguay.
    • Handle: RePEc:bku:doctra:2017002
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Alvaredo, Facundo & Bourguignon, François & Ferreira, Francisco H. G. & Lustig, Nora, 2023. "Seventy-five Years of Measuring Income Inequality in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13157, Inter-American Development Bank.
    3. Alvaredo, Facundo & Bourguignon, Francois & Ferreira, Francisco H. G. & Lustig, Nora, 2024. "Inequality Bands: Seventy-Five Years of Measuring Income Inequality in Latin America," IZA Discussion Papers 17201, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Campos Vázquez, Raymundo Miguel & Rodas Milián, James Alexis, 2020. "El efecto faro del salario mínimo en la estructura salarial: evidencias para México," El Trimestre Económico, Fondo de Cultura Económica, vol. 87(345), pages 51-97, enero-mar.
    5. Pablo Blanchard & Paula Carrasco & Rodrigo Ceni & Cecilia Parada & Sofía Santín, 2021. "Distributive and displacement effects of a coordinated wage bargaining scheme," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 21-26, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    6. Casacuberta, Carlos & Gandelman, Néstor, 2023. "Wage councils, product markups and wage markdowns: Evidence from Uruguay," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    7. Pérez Pérez, Jorge, 2020. "The minimum wage in formal and informal sectors: Evidence from an inflation shock," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    8. Carlo Lombardo & Lucía Ramírez Leira & Leonardo Gasparini, 2024. "Does the Minimum Wage Affect Wage Inequality? A Study for the Six Largest Latin American Economies," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(4), pages 494-510, April.
    9. Chi‐Chur Chao & Mong Shan Ee & Xuan Nguyen & Eden S. H. Yu, 2022. "Minimum wage, firm dynamics, and wage inequality: Theory and evidence​," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 18(3), pages 247-271, September.
    10. Campos-Vazquez Raymundo M. & Delgado Victor & Rodas Alexis, 2020. "The effects of a place-based tax cut and minimum wage increase on labor market outcomes," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    minimum wage; wage inequality; instrumental variables; employment effect; difference in difference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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