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Minimum Wage and Real Wage Inequality: Evidence from Pass-Through to Retail Prices

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  • Justin H. Leung

    (National University of Singapore Business School)

Abstract

This paper considers the impact of the minimum wage on both labor and product markets using detailed store-level scanner data. I provide empirical evidence that a 10% increase in the minimum wage raises grocery store prices by 0.6% to 0.8% and suggest that the minimum wage not only raises labor costs but also affects product demand, especially in poorer regions. This points to novel channels of heterogeneity in pass-through that have distributional consequences, with key implications for real wage inequality. I also find that price rigidity within retail chains ameliorates these effects, reducing the pass-through elasticity for retail prices by about 60%.

Suggested Citation

  • Justin H. Leung, 2021. "Minimum Wage and Real Wage Inequality: Evidence from Pass-Through to Retail Prices," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(4), pages 754-769, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:4:p:754-769
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00915
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    Cited by:

    1. Marianna Kudlyak & Murat Tasci & Didem Tuzemen, 2019. "Minimum Wage Increases and Vacancies," Working Papers 19-30R, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, revised 21 Apr 2022.
    2. Sebastian Link, 2019. "The Price and Employment Response of Firms to the Introduction of Minimum Wages," CESifo Working Paper Series 7575, CESifo.
    3. Gabriele Borg & Diego Gentile Passaro & Santiago Hermo, 2022. "From Workplace to Residence: The Spillover Effects of Minimum Wage Policies on Local Housing Markets," Papers 2208.01791, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2023.
    4. Aleksandra Majchrowska, 2022. "Does minimum wage affect inflation?," Ekonomista, Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne, issue 4, pages 417-436.
    5. Calderón, Mariana & Cortés, Josué & Pérez Pérez, Jorge & Salcedo, Alejandrina, 2023. "Disentangling the Effects of Large Minimum Wage and VAT Changes on Prices: Evidence from Mexico," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    6. Leung, Justin H. & Seo, Hee Kwon, 2023. "How do government transfer payments affect retail prices and welfare? Evidence from SNAP," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Leung,Justin H. & Hee Kwon (Samuel) Seo, 2022. "How Do Government Transfer Payments Affect Retail Prices and Welfare ? Evidence from SNAP," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10075, The World Bank.
    9. Dami'an Vergara, 2022. "Minimum Wages and Optimal Redistribution," Papers 2202.00839, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2022.
    10. Luis E. Arango & Jesús A. Botero & Eleonora Dávalos & Daniela Gallo & Estefany Hernández, 2022. "Efectos fiscales del salario mínimo en Colombia," Borradores de Economia 1216, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.

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