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Minimum Wage and Lives of the Poor: Evidence from Thailand

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  • Wannaphong Durongkaveroj

Abstract

Studying how the poor respond to the minimum wage policy in Thailand, I find that a notable increase in the minimum wage has no significant impact on employment among the poor even though wage plays a vital but heterogeneous role in determining employment. Also, this policy can significantly boost expenditure among the poor residing in provinces where the minimum wage is adjusted dramatically. Surprisingly, food does not account for the largest share of consumption as the income of the poor rises. The results are still robust to additional controls and redefinition of the poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Wannaphong Durongkaveroj, 2017. "Minimum Wage and Lives of the Poor: Evidence from Thailand," PIER Discussion Papers 76, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:pui:dpaper:76
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Minimum Wage; Employment; Poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate 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
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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