Minimum wage and financially distressed firms: Another one bites the dust

B-Tier
Journal: Labour Economics
Year: 2022
Volume: 74
Issue: C

Authors (5)

Alexandre, F. (not in RePEc) Bação, P. (Universidade do Coimbra) Cerejeira, J. (Universidade do Minho) Costa, H. (not in RePEc) Portela, M. (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.402 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Since late 2014, Portuguese Governments adopted ambitious minimum wage policies. Using linked employer-employee data, we provide an econometric evaluation of the impact of those policies. Our estimates suggest that minimum wage increases reduced employment growth and profitability, in particular for financially distressed firms. We also conclude that minimum wage increases had a positive impact on firms’ exit, again amplified for financially distressed firms. According to these results, minimum wage policies may have had a supply side effect by accelerating the exit of low profitability and low productivity firms and, thus, contributing to improve aggregate productivity through a cleansing effect.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:labeco:v:74:y:2022:i:c:s0927537121001238
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-24