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The Process of Fixing the British National Minimum Wage, 1997–2007

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  • William Brown

Abstract

The British National Minimum Wage was introduced in 1999 under the guidance of a Low Pay Commission constructed on a basis of ‘social partnership’. The article analyses its conduct over its first 10 years from diary data. Key challenges were for it to be independent of government, to have its advice accepted by government and to maintain internal unanimity. The changing internal dynamics of the Commission, and its major negotiations over the level of the minimum wage, are described and analysed. Conclusions are drawn for the social partnership process.

Suggested Citation

  • William Brown, 2009. "The Process of Fixing the British National Minimum Wage, 1997–2007," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 47(2), pages 429-443, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:47:y:2009:i:2:p:429-443
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2009.00722.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Metcalf, 1999. "The British National Minimum Wage," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 37(2), pages 171-201, June.
    2. Metcalf, David, 1999. "The Low Pay Commission and the National Minimum Wage," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 109(453), pages 46-66, February.
    3. William Brown, 2000. "Putting Partnership into Practice in Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 299-316, June.
    4. Metcalf, David, 1999. "The British national minimum wage," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 20229, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Brown, W., 2002. "The Operation of the Low Pay Commission," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 0223, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    6. David Metcalf, 1999. "The British National Minimum Wage," CEP Discussion Papers dp0419, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    Cited by:

    1. David N. Margolis, 2014. "Introducing a statutory minimum wage in middle and low income countries," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 1-52, May.
    2. Philipp Berge & Hanna Frings, 2020. "High-impact minimum wages and heterogeneous regions," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 701-729, August.
    3. Damian Grimshaw & Gerhard Bosch & Jill Rubery, 2014. "Minimum Wages and Collective Bargaining: What Types of Pay Bargaining Can Foster Positive Pay Equity Outcomes?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(3), pages 470-498, September.
    4. Eliav Danziger & Leif Danziger, 2015. "A Pareto-improving Minimum Wage," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 82(326), pages 236-252, April.
    5. Philipp vom Berge & Hanna Frings & Alfredo R. Paloyo, 2013. "High-Impact Minimum Wages and Heterogeneous Regions," Ruhr Economic Papers 0408, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
    6. Gindling, T. H. & Ronconi, Lucas, 2023. "Minimum Wage Policy and Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12931, Inter-American Development Bank.
    7. Boeri, Tito, 2012. "Setting the minimum wage," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 281-290.
    8. repec:zbw:rwirep:0408 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Reg HAMILTON & Matt NICHOL, 2023. "One hundred years of dynamic minimum wage regulation: Lessons from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 162(3), pages 407-429, September.
    10. Peter Prowse & Ray Fells, 2016. "The Living Wage – Policy And Practice," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 144-162, March.

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