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Minimum Wages in New Zealand: Policy and practice in the 21st century

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Listed:
  • David Maré

    (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research)

  • Dean Hyslop

    (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research)

Abstract

New Zealand has seen dramatic changes in minimum wage policies since 2000. The adult minimum wage has increased 75% in CPI-adjusted real terms. In addition, the youth minimum wage was abolished in two stages, resulting in a 125% increase in the real minimum wage for 16–19-year-old workers. We review the motivations for minimum wages and the changes and analyse how they have affected workers outcomes. We find that the minimum wage now strongly determines the wages of teenage workers, with the minimum wage now at the median wage of teenagers, and over half of 16–17-year-olds, and about 40% of 18–19-year-olds, earning at or below the minimum. Although we find no clear evidence that increases in the minimum wage have led to adverse employment effects, we expect there are downside risks for youth and low skilled workers’ employment. As minimum wage workers are broadly spread across the household income distribution, we conclude that minimum wages are largely ineffective as a redistributive income support policy.

Suggested Citation

  • David Maré & Dean Hyslop, 2021. "Minimum Wages in New Zealand: Policy and practice in the 21st century," Working Papers 21_03, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:mtu:wpaper:21_03
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    Cited by:

    1. Corey Allan & David C Maré, 2021. "Do workers share in firm success? Pass-through estimates for New Zealand," Working Papers 21_15, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    2. Corey Allan & David C. Maré, 2022. "Who benefits from firm success? Heterogeneous rent-sharing in New Zealand," Working Papers 22_03, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Minimum wages; employment; earnings inequality; income inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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