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Revisiting the Employment Effects of Minimum Wages in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Christl Michael

    (Agenda Austria,Vienna, Austria)

  • Köppl-Turyna Monika

    (Agenda Austria,Vienna, Austria)

  • Kucsera Dénes

    (Agenda Austria,Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to estimate the relationship between the minimum wage and the employment rate of young individuals, taking into account potential non-linearity. In a cross-country setup of European countries, we find a significant nonlinear relationship between the minimum wages and employment rate of young individuals. Theoretically, while low minimum wages can indeed be positively associated with employment, after a certain level of the minimum wage, the relationship turns negative. This implies that there is an optimal level of minimum wages that maximizes the employment rate of young individuals. We additionally show that the negative relationship between minimum wages and employment of young workers is stronger if labor markets are otherwise strictly regulated and when workers are relatively unproductive. Using these results, we are able to calculate country-specific turning points and show that some European countries in our sample might in fact contribute to high unemployment rates among young individuals by setting minimum wages too high. However, in other European countries, especially the Eastern European countries, an increase in minimum wages (up to a certain level) might even lead to higher employment rates of young individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Christl Michael & Köppl-Turyna Monika & Kucsera Dénes, 2018. "Revisiting the Employment Effects of Minimum Wages in Europe," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 19(4), pages 426-465, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:germec:v:19:y:2018:i:4:p:426-465
    DOI: 10.1111/geer.12135
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    Cited by:

    1. Filauro Stefano & Grünberger Klaus & Narazani Edlira, 2025. "Coordinated Minimum Wage Policies: Impacts on EU-Level Income Inequality," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 25(2), pages 209-246.
    2. Holtemöller, Oliver & Pohle, Felix, 2020. "Employment effects of introducing a minimum wage: The case of Germany," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 108-121.
    3. Cristian Valeriu Paun & Radu Nechita & Alexandru Patruti & Mihai Vladimir Topan, 2021. "The Impact of the Minimum Wage on Employment: An EU Panel Data Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Monika Köppl-Turyna & Michael Christl & Dénes Kucsera, 2019. "Beschäftigungseffekte von Mindestlöhnen: Die Dosis macht das Gift," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 72(02), pages 40-46, January.
    5. Blömer, Maximilian J. & Guertzgen, Nicole & Pohlan, Laura & Stichnoth, Holger & van den Berg, Gerard J., 2024. "Unemployment effects of the German minimum wage in an equilibrium job search model," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Öllinger, Michael & Ostermair, Christoph & Sell, Friedrich L., 2019. "Distributional effects of minimum wages: Can unions expect a double dividend? A theoretical exercise from a supply-side view," Working Papers in Economics 2019,2, Bundeswehr University Munich, Economic Research Group.
    7. Balázs Égert & Jarmila Botev & Dave Turner & Balazs Egert, 2024. "Minimum Wages at a Turning Point?," CESifo Working Paper Series 11586, CESifo.
    8. Andreas Georgiadis & Ioannis Kaplanis & Vassilis Monastiriotis, 2018. "Greece after the Bailouts: The Impact of Minimum Wages on Wages and Employment: Evidence from Greece," GreeSE – Hellenic Observatory Papers on Greece and Southeast Europe 131, Hellenic Observatory, LSE.
    9. Neumark David, 2019. "The Econometrics and Economics of the Employment Effects of Minimum Wages: Getting from Known Unknowns to Known Knowns," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 20(3), pages 293-329, August.
    10. Georgiadis, Andreas & Kaplanis, Ioannis & Monastiriotis, Vassilis, 2018. "The impact of minimum wages on wages and employment: evidence from Greece," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 91959, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Michael Christl & Monika Köppl-Turyna & Dénes Kucsera, 2019. "Employment Effects of Minimum Wages," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 16(04), pages 01-08, January.
    12. Daunfeldt, Sven-Olov & Gidehag, Anton & Seerar Westerberg, Hans, 2023. "Do reduced labor costs increase employment among minimum wage workers? Evidence from a Swedish payroll tax cut," HFI Working Papers 26, Institute of Retail Economics (Handelns Forskningsinstitut).
    13. repec:ces:ifodic:v:16:y:2019:i:4:p:50000000004800 is not listed on IDEAS

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J48 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Particular Labor Markets; Public Policy

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