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The impact of minimum wages on informal and formal labor market outcomes: evidence from Indonesia

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  • Maike Hohberg
  • Jann Lay

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of minimum wages on informal and formal sector wages and employment in Indonesia between 1997 and 2007. Applying fixed-effects methods, the estimates suggest that minimum wages have a significant positive effect on formal sector wages, while there are no spillover effects on informal workers. Regarding employment, we find no statistically significant negative effects of minimum wages on the probability of being formally employed. These findings suggest that employers use adjustment channels other than employment or that effects such as a demand stimulus on a local level outweigh the possible negative employment effects. Jel codes: J08, J46 Copyright Hohberg and Lay. 2015

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  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izaldv:v:4:y:2015:i:1:p:1-25:10.1186/s40175-015-0036-4
    DOI: 10.1186/s40175-015-0036-4
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    3. Pérez Pérez, Jorge, 2020. "The minimum wage in formal and informal sectors: Evidence from an inflation shock," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Dyah Savitri Pritadrajati, 2021. "Determinants Of School Enrolment In Indonesia: The Role Of Minimum Wage," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 24(2), pages 181-204, June.
    5. Nancy H. Chau & Ravi Kanbur & Vidhya Soundararajan, 2022. "Employer power and employment in developing countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-100, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Neumark, David & Munguía Corella, Luis Felipe, 2021. "Do minimum wages reduce employment in developing countries? A survey and exploration of conflicting evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
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    8. Ariani & Devanto Shasta Pratomo & Marlina Ekawaty & David Kaluge, 2024. "Absorption of Formal and Informal Sector Workers through the Minimum Wage: Studies in Indonesia," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 128-143.
    9. Sari, Virgi & Dimova, Ralitza, 2024. "The decline and levelling off of earnings inequality: boon or bane for a growing economy?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124051, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. 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.
    11. Sy, Deborah Kim & Hosoe, Nobuhiro, 2023. "Consequences of a minimum wage increase in a migrant-sending country," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1057-1066.
    12. Pandelis Mitsis, 2019. "The Impact of the Minimum Wage on Wages and Work in Cyprus," Cyprus Economic Policy Review, University of Cyprus, Economics Research Centre, vol. 13(2), pages 72-101, December.
    13. Burak Kağan Demirtaş, 2022. "Spillover effects of the minimum wage introduction based on horizontal fairness: A lab experiment," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 3370-3385, December.
    14. Esa A. Asyahid & Elan Satriawan, 2024. "The Nature of Self-Employment in Indonesia: Entrepreneurship or Survival Strategy?," Gadjah Mada Economics Working Paper Series 202403002, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

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