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Who Bears the Cost? High-Frequency Evidence on Minimum Wage Effects and Amenity Pass-Through in Spot Labor Markets

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  • Hayato Kanayama
  • Sho Miyaji
  • Suguru Otani

Abstract

This paper provides causal evidence on the short-run effects of minimum wage hikes in a spot labor market, using confidential contract-level data from Timee, a Japanese job-matching platform. Leveraging high-frequency variation and a bin-level difference-in-differences design, we find a 2 percentage point decline in employment within affected wage bins, with losses concentrated below the new threshold. Transportation reimbursement--a flexible nonwage amenity--remains largely unchanged, indicating limited pass-through. These findings suggest that spot labor markets adjust rapidly through wage compliance, with the cost burden borne by establishments rather than offset through reductions in job amenities.

Suggested Citation

  • Hayato Kanayama & Sho Miyaji & Suguru Otani, 2025. "Who Bears the Cost? High-Frequency Evidence on Minimum Wage Effects and Amenity Pass-Through in Spot Labor Markets," Papers 2505.04555, arXiv.org, revised May 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2505.04555
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