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Higher Wages, Less Gym Time? The Effects of Minimum Wages on Time Use

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  • Otto Lenhart

Abstract

This study examines the effects of minimum wages on time use. Analyzing data from the American Time Use Survey from 2003 to 2017, I investigate the role of time allocated toward exercise and other health‐enhancing activities as a potential mechanism underlying the link between minimum wages and health. The study finds that a $1 increase in minimum wages is associated with reductions in exercising and total personal health time by 13 and 20 minutes during the week, respectively. This decline in health time is fully reallocated toward additional leisure time. The results are largely driven by males and employed individuals.

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  • Otto Lenhart, 2019. "Higher Wages, Less Gym Time? The Effects of Minimum Wages on Time Use," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 86(1), pages 253-270, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:86:y:2019:i:1:p:253-270
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12352
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    Cited by:

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    2. Richard Gearhart & Lyudmyla Sonchak-Ardan & Raphael Thibault, 2023. "The impact of minimum wage on parental time allocation to children: evidence from the American Time Use Survey," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1019-1042, September.
    3. Roy, Soumyadip & Orazem, Peter F., 2021. "Active leisure, passive leisure and health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    4. Lenhart, Otto, 2021. "The effects of minimum wages on teenage birth rates," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    5. Ardvin Kester S. Ong & Yogi Tri Prasetyo & Godwin M. Bagon & Christian Hope S. Dadulo & Nathaniel O. Hortillosa & Morrissey A. Mercado & Thanatorn Chuenyindee & Reny Nadlifatin & Satria Fadil Persada, 2022. "Investigating Factors Affecting Behavioral Intention among Gym-Goers to Visit Fitness Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Integrating Physical Activity Maintenance Theory and Social Cognitive Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
    6. Taryn W. Morrissey, 2023. "The minimum wage and parent time use," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1043-1062, September.
    7. Aparna Soni & Taryn Morrissey, 2022. "The effects of Medicaid expansion on home production and childcare," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 931-950, January.
    8. Leigh, J. Paul, 2021. "Treatment design, health outcomes, and demographic categories in the literature on minimum wages and health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    9. David Neumark, 2023. "The Effects of Minimum Wages on (Almost) Everything? A Review of Recent Evidence on Health and Related Behaviors," NBER Working Papers 31191, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. William Schneider & Lindsey Rose Bullinger & Kerri M. Raissian, 2022. "How does the minimum wage affect child maltreatment and parenting behaviors? An analysis of the mechanisms," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1119-1154, December.

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