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The minimum wage and firm networks: Evidence from South Africa

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  • Brandon Joel Tan

Abstract

There is a large literature on the minimum wage focused on directly exposed firms and geographies. This paper provides new evidence that the minimum wage has significant spillover effects on firms exposed to the minimum wage indirectly via firm supply chains. Using administrative firm-level tax data from South Africa, we study the impact of the 50 per cent agricultural minimum wage hike in 2013 on the outcomes of firms downstream from the agriculture sector with an event study design. The minimum wage increased labour costs and prices in the agriculture sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Brandon Joel Tan, 2021. "The minimum wage and firm networks: Evidence from South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-100, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-100
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Peter Harasztosi & Attila Lindner, 2019. "Who Pays for the Minimum Wage?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(8), pages 2693-2727, August.
    3. Duncan Pieterse & Elizabeth Gavin & C. Friedrich Kreuser, 2018. "Introduction to the South African Revenue Service and National Treasury Firm‐Level Panel," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 86(S1), pages 6-39, January.
    4. Thomas MaCurdy, 2015. "How Effective Is the Minimum Wage at Supporting the Poor?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 123(2), pages 497-545.
    5. Conradie, Beatrice, 2005. "Wages and wage elasticities for wine and table grapes in South Africa," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-19, March.
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