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Minimum Wage Effects on Gender Gaps in Working Hours and Earnings in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Clemens Ohlert

    (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Abstract

This paper investigates whether the introduction of a statutory minimum wage in Germany has led to a reduction in gender gaps in hourly wages, working hours and monthly earnings. Using the 2014 Structure of Earnings Survey and the 2015 Earnings Survey, a difference-in-differences approach was applied at the establishment level. The results show a reduction of the gender pay gap in establishments of up to 3.6 percentage points due to the introduction of the minimum wage. While the effects on hourly wages of women and men in low-wage jobs were the same on average, women are more often affected by the minimum wage and therefore benefit more often from it. The gender time gap in establishments decreased by about 2.4 percentage points on average and by about 3.9 percentage points among low wage workers. The minimum wage led to a reduction in the average gender gap in gross monthly earnings in establishments of up to 6.1 percentage points and by up to 4.6 percentage points among low-wage employees.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemens Ohlert, 2024. "Minimum Wage Effects on Gender Gaps in Working Hours and Earnings in Germany," Working Papers 663, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2024-663
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    File URL: http://www.ecineq.org/milano/WP/ECINEQ2024-663.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    minimum wage; gender pay gap; gender time gap; gender earnings gap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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