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What Is a Minimum Wage For? Empirical Results and Theories of Justice

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  • David A. Green

Abstract

I undertake a Rawlsian political economy exercise - namely, one in which economic institutions are judged by how well they match principles in theories of distributive justice. I contend that such an exercise is integrally related to empirical economics because most theories of justice emphasize respect, which, in turn, depends on how wages and employment are actually assigned in an economy. I explore these ideas in relation to the minimum wage. This leads to a different emphasis on what minimum wage-related outcomes need study, and to a claim that minimum wage setting is related to standards of fairness.

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  • David A. Green, 2014. "What Is a Minimum Wage For? Empirical Results and Theories of Justice," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 40(4), pages 293-314, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpp:issued:v:40:y:2014:i:4:p:293-314
    DOI: 10.3138/cpp.2014-058
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    Cited by:

    1. David A. Green, 2015. "Chasing after good jobs. Do they exist and does it matter if they do?," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 48(4), pages 1215-1265, November.
    2. Janmaat, Johannus & Harris, Lindsay & Carlaw, Kenneth & Evans, Mike, 2019. "Action economics? working with citizen groups in Revelstoke, BC to evaluate the impact of a living wage," MPRA Paper 96740, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Peter Burton & Shelley Phipps, 2017. "Economic Well-Being of Canadian Children," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 43(4), pages 299-330, December.
    4. Marleen von der Heiden & Ralf Himmelreicher, 2018. "Mindestlohn und Lohngerechtigkeit," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1013, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    5. Josip Lesica, 2018. "Lobbying For Minimum Wages," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 56(4), pages 2027-2057, October.
    6. Kate Rybczynski & Anindya Sen, 2018. "Employment Effects Of The Minimum Wage: Panel Data Evidence From Canadian Provinces," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(1), pages 116-135, January.

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