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Minimum Wages and the Health and Access to Care of Immigrants' Children

Author

Listed:
  • Averett, Susan L.

    (Lafayette College)

  • Smith, Julie K.

    (Lafayette College)

  • Wang, Yang

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract

States are increasingly resorting to raising the minimum wage to boost the earnings of those at the bottom of the income distribution. In this paper, we examine the effects of minimum wage increases on the health of the children of immigrants. Their parents are disproportionately represented in minimum wage jobs, typically have less access to health care and are a growing part of the U.S. labor force. Using a difference-in-differences identification strategy and data drawn from the National Health Interview Survey from the years 2000 - 2015, we examine whether children of low-educated immigrants experience any changes in health or access to care when the minimum wage increases.

Suggested Citation

  • Averett, Susan L. & Smith, Julie K. & Wang, Yang, 2019. "Minimum Wages and the Health and Access to Care of Immigrants' Children," IZA Discussion Papers 12606, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12606
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Galbis, Eva Moreno, 2020. "Differences in work conditions between natives and immigrants: preferences vs. outside employment opportunities," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    minimum wage; immigrant children; access to care; health insurance; health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality

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