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Minimum wages in a dual labor market: Evidence from the 2019 minimum-wage hike in Spain

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  • Hijzen, Alexander
  • Montenegro, Mateo
  • Pessoa, Ana Sofia

Abstract

This paper provides an assessment of the 2019 minimum-wage hike in Spain, which increased the minimum wage by 22 % and directly concerned 7 % of dependent employees. We make use of two complementary approaches, one that follows incumbent workers over time and hence does not take account of any possible effects on new hires, and one that tracks employment in wage bins over time and takes account of both separations and new hires. The results are as follows. First, the minimum wage hike significantly increased the wages of directly affected workers, with small positive wage spillovers on workers with initial wages just about the new minimum wage. Second, the increase in wages comes at the expense of a reduction in low-wage employment. While employment increases just above the minimum wage, it is not sufficient to offset the decline in employment below it. Third, the reduction in employment is mainly driven by a reduction in hires of workers on open-ended contracts and to a smaller extent job losses among workers on fixed-term contracts. This illustrates that limiting the study of minimum wage hikes to stayers can dampen the estimated impact on employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Hijzen, Alexander & Montenegro, Mateo & Pessoa, Ana Sofia, 2026. "Minimum wages in a dual labor market: Evidence from the 2019 minimum-wage hike in Spain," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:98:y:2026:i:c:s0927537125001502
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2025.102826
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