IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/deveco/v63y2025i2p137-182.html

The Impact of Minimum Wages on Employment: Evidence From a Lower Middle‐Income Country

Author

Listed:
  • Cuong Viet Nguyen

Abstract

In this study, we examine the impact of minimum wages in Vietnam using individual‐level data from the annual Labor Force Surveys (2012–20). During this period, the average real minimum wage increased by around 4% per year. Overall, we do not find significant effects from minimum wages on employment and monthly wage earnings. However, we find a considerable negative effect on workers' total working hours. Working hours per week are reduced by 0.38% for a 1% increase in the minimum wage. Since total wages remain unchanged, a reduction in working hours results in an increase in hourly earnings. A 1% increase in the minimum wage leads to a 0.32% increase in hourly earnings.

Suggested Citation

  • Cuong Viet Nguyen, 2025. "The Impact of Minimum Wages on Employment: Evidence From a Lower Middle‐Income Country," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 63(2), pages 137-182, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:deveco:v:63:y:2025:i:2:p:137-182
    DOI: 10.1111/deve.12419
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/deve.12419
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/deve.12419?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dinkelman, Taryn & Ranchhod, Vimal, 2012. "Evidence on the impact of minimum wage laws in an informal sector: Domestic workers in South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 27-45.
    2. Decio Coviello & Erika Deserranno & Nicola Persico, 2022. "Minimum Wage and Individual Worker Productivity: Evidence from a Large US Retailer," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(9), pages 2315-2360.
    3. David Neumark, 2018. "Employment effects of minimum wages," World of Labour, LISER, pages 1-6, December.
    4. Martín Rama, 2001. "The Consequences of Doubling the Minimum Wage: The Case of Indonesia," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 54(4), pages 864-881, July.
    5. Nathaniel Baum-Snow & Byron F. Lutz, 2011. "School Desegregation, School Choice, and Changes in Residential Location Patterns by Race," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(7), pages 3019-3046, December.
    6. Stijn Broecke & Alessia Forti & Marieke Vandeweyer, 2017. "The effect of minimum wages on employment in emerging economies: a survey and meta-analysis," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 366-391, July.
    7. Cuong Viet Nguyen, 2017. "Do minimum wages affect firms’ labor and capital? Evidence from Vietnam," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 291-308, April.
    8. Alan B. Krueger & David Card, 2000. "Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania: Reply," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(5), pages 1397-1420, December.
    9. Maike Hohberg & Jann Lay, 2015. "The impact of minimum wages on informal and formal labor market outcomes: evidence from Indonesia," IZA Journal of Labor & Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-25, December.
    10. Dale Belman & Paul J. Wolfson, 2014. "What Does the Minimum Wage Do?," Books from Upjohn Press, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, number wdmwd.
    11. Arindrajit Dube, 2019. "Minimum Wages and the Distribution of Family Incomes," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(4), pages 268-304, October.
    12. Hyejin Ku, 2022. "Does Minimum Wage Increase Labor Productivity? Evidence from Piece Rate Workers," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(2), pages 325-359.
    13. Nguyen Viet Cuong, 2017. "Do Minimum Wage Increases Matter to Firm Profitability? The Case of Vietnam," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(6), pages 790-804, August.
    14. Uma RANI & Patrick BELSER & Martin OELZ & Setareh RANJBAR, 2013. "Minimum wage coverage and compliance in developing countries," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 152(3-4), pages 381-410, December.
    15. repec:wbk:wbpubs:6760 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Justin Wolfers, 2006. "Did Unilateral Divorce Laws Raise Divorce Rates? A Reconciliation and New Results," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(5), pages 1802-1820, December.
    17. Peter McHenry & Jennifer M. Mellor, 2022. "The Impact of Recent State and Local Minimum Wage Increases on Nursing Facility Employment," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 345-368, December.
    18. Clemens, Jeffrey & Wither, Michael, 2019. "The minimum wage and the Great Recession: Evidence of effects on the employment and income trajectories of low-skilled workers," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 53-67.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nguyen Huu Anh & Duong Thi Chi, 2025. "Nonlinear Effects of Inflation and Wage Policy on Firm Sustainable Growth in Vietnam," European Journal of Business Science and Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Business and Economics, vol. 11(2), pages 250-269.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Arindrajit Dube & Attila Lindner, 2024. "Minimum Wages in the 21st Century," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 2425, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    2. Rémi Bazillier & María Moraga-Fernández, 2025. "Minimum Wage Shocks, Firms and Employment Evidence from Africa," Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 25006, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne.
    3. Yuko MORI & Hiroko OKUDAIRA, 2025. "Higher Minimum Wage, Stagnant Income? The case of women's work hours in Japan," Discussion papers 25042, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    4. Clemens, Jeffrey, 2024. "Minimum Wage Hikes Bring Tradeoffs beyond Pay and Jobs," MPRA Paper 121748, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Nicolas Gonzalez-Pampillon & Javier Vazquez-Grenno, 2025. "Minimum wages and low wage workers: Compliance as non-employment margin," CEP Discussion Papers dp2096, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    6. Nicolás González-Pampillón & Javier Vázquez-Grenno & Universitat de Barcelona & IEB, 2025. "Minimum wages and low wage workers: Compliance asnon-employment margin," Working Papers 2025/06, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    7. Haroon Bhorat & Tara Caetano & Benjamin Jourdan & Ravi Kanbur & Christopher Rooney & Benjamin Stanwix & Ingrid Woolard, 2016. "Investigating the Feasibility of a National Minimum Wage for South Africa," Working Papers 201601, University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit.
    8. Jonathan Cribb & Giulia Giupponi & Robert Joyce & Attila Lindner & Tom Waters & Thomas Wernham & Xiaowei Xu, 2021. "The distributional and employment impacts of nationwide Minimum Wage changes," IFS Working Papers W21/48, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    9. Haroon Bhorat & Ravi Kanbur & Benjamin Stanwix, 2017. "Minimum Wages in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Primer," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 32(1), pages 21-74.
    10. Meiselbach, Mark K. & Abraham, Jean M., 2023. "Do minimum wage laws affect employer-sponsored insurance provision?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    11. Gudibande, Rohan Ravindra & Jacob, Arun, 2020. "Minimum wages for domestic workers: impact evaluation of the Indian experience," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    12. Uma Rani, 2017. "Minimum Wage Policies and Their Effects in Developing Countries: A Comparative Perspective," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 60(1), pages 33-55, March.
    13. Kudlyak, Marianna & Tasci, Murat & Tüzemen, Didem, 2025. "Minimum wage increases and vacancies," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    14. Nagler, Markus & Winkler, Erwin, 2026. "Minimum Wages and Work Pressure," IZA Discussion Papers 18398, IZA Network @ LISER.
    15. Yim, Hyejin & Katare, Bhagyashree & Cuffey, Joel, 2022. "Does Increasing Minimum Wage Impact Service Quality? Evidence from Restaurant Food Safety Inspections," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322411, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    16. Link, Sebastian, 2024. "The price and employment response of firms to the introduction of minimum wages," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    17. Pérez Pérez, Jorge, 2020. "The minimum wage in formal and informal sectors: Evidence from an inflation shock," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    18. Alzate, David & Carranza, Eliana & Duran-Franch, Joana & Packard, Truman & Proffen, Celina, 2024. "How Regulations Impact the Labor Market: A Review of the Literatures on Product and Labor Market Regulations," IZA Discussion Papers 17536, IZA Network @ LISER.
    19. Belman, Dale. & Wolfson, Paul J., 2016. "What does the minimum wage do in developing countries? : A review of studies and methodologies," ILO Working Papers 994893283402676, International Labour Organization.
    20. Mr. Christopher S Adam & Mr. Edward F Buffie, 2020. "The Minimum Wage Puzzle in Less Developed Countries: Reconciling Theory and Evidence," IMF Working Papers 2020/023, International Monetary Fund.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:deveco:v:63:y:2025:i:2:p:137-182. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/idegvjp.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.