Wage Inequality in Germany after the Minimum Wage Introduction

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2023
Volume: 41
Issue: 3
Pages: 813 - 857

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Monthly wage inequality in Germany continued to increase in the early 2000s, which is mainly explained by a rising part-time employment share. After 2010, inequality returned to the level of 2000. About half of the recent decrease is due to the introduction of the national minimum wage in 2015. While employment effects of the minimum wage are negligible, we find strong wage increases among the existing workforce. The minimum wage lowered wage inequality within eastern and western Germany but also led to a convergence of the east-west wage differential. The increased labor incomes were not offset by decreasing social benefits.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/720391
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24