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The administration and impact of a national minimum wage: lessons for Germany

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  • Peter Dolton

    (University of Sussex)

Abstract

The problem of trying to estimate what the effect of the minimum wage will have on employment (or any other outcome) has puzzled economists for over 150 years. Some factions in Germany have recently contemplated supplementing their extensive system of sector and branch minimum wages with a National Minimum Wage (NMW). Perhaps some of the most valuable lessons for Germany can be drawn from the UK which introduced such a NMW as recently as 1999. This article provides an overview of recent evidence from the UK and other countries on the effects of the NMW and lessons to be drawn from instituting such a policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Dolton, 2012. "The administration and impact of a national minimum wage: lessons for Germany," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 45(3), pages 201-208, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jlabrs:v:45:y:2012:i:3:d:10.1007_s12651-012-0121-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12651-012-0121-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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