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The Optimal Minimum Wage with Regulatory Uncertainty

Author

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  • Bennett, John

    (Royal Holloway, University of London)

  • Chioveanu, Ioana

    (Brunel University)

Abstract

For two different regulatory standards, we examine the optimal minimum wage in a competitive labour market when the government is uncertain about supply and demand. Solutions are related to underlying supply and demand conditions, and the extent of uncertainty and of rationing efficiency. We show that regulatory uncertainty does not diminish the rationale for intervention, but may require a low minimum wage that may not bind. With expected earnings-maximization, greater uncertainty widens the range of parameter values for which a minimum wage should be set. With expected worker surplus-maximization and sufficiently efficient rationing, a minimum wage should always be set.

Suggested Citation

  • Bennett, John & Chioveanu, Ioana, 2015. "The Optimal Minimum Wage with Regulatory Uncertainty," IZA Discussion Papers 9576, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9576
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. N. Bloom, 2016. "Fluctuations in uncertainty," Voprosy Ekonomiki, NP Voprosy Ekonomiki, issue 4.
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    3. Luttmer Erzo F.P., 2007. "Does the Minimum Wage Cause Inefficient Rationing?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 1-42, October.
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    5. Russell S. Sobel, 1999. "Theory and Evidence on the Political Economy of the Minimum Wage," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(4), pages 761-785, August.
    6. Lee, David & Saez, Emmanuel, 2012. "Optimal minimum wage policy in competitive labor markets," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(9-10), pages 739-749.
    7. Pedro Portugal & Ana Rute Cardoso, 2006. "Disentangling the Minimum Wage Puzzle: An Analysis of Worker Accessions and Separations," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 4(5), pages 988-1013, September.
    8. Lucas W. Davis & Lutz Kilian, 2011. "The Allocative Cost of Price Ceilings in the U.S. Residential Market for Natural Gas," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 119(2), pages 212-241.
    9. John Schmitt, 2013. "Why Does the Minimum Wage Have No Discernible Effect on Employment?," CEPR Reports and Issue Briefs 2013-04, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).
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    Cited by:

    1. Eliav Danziger & Leif Danziger, 2024. "A Minimum Wage May Increase Exports and Firm Size Even with a Competitive Labor Market," CESifo Working Paper Series 10997, CESifo.
    2. Danziger, Eliav & Danziger, Leif, 2024. "A Minimum Wage May Increase Exports and Firm Size Even with a Competitive Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 16846, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Robertas Zubrickas, 2020. "Contingent wage subsidy," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 22(4), pages 1105-1119, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    minimum wage; uncertainty; worker surplus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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