Estimating potential reductions in premature mortality in New York City from raising the minimum wage to $15

T.-Y. Tsao, K.J. Konty, G. Van Wye, O. Barbot, J.L. Hadler, N. Linos and M.T. Bassett

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 6, 1036-1041

Abstract: Objectives. To assess potential reductions in premature mortality that could have been achieved in 2008 to 2012 if the minimum wage had been $15 per hour in New York City. Methods. Using the 2008 to 2012 American Community Survey, we performed simulations to assess how the proportion of low-income residents in each neighborhood might change with a hypothetical $15 minimum wage under alternative assumptions of labor market dynamics. We developed an ecological model of premature death to determine the differences between the levels of premature mortality as predicted by the actual proportions of low-income residents in 2008 to 2012 and the levels predicted by the proportions of low-income residents under a hypothetical $15 minimum wage. Results. A $15 minimum wage could have averted 2800 to 5500 premature deaths between 2008 and 2012 in New York City, representing 4% to 8% of total premature deaths in that period. Most of these avertable deaths would be realized in lower-income communities, in which residents are predominantly people of color. Conclusions. A higherminimum wage may have substantial positive effects on health and should be considered as an instrument to address health disparities.

Keywords: animal model; clinical study; death; disease model; health disparity; human; lowest income group; market; neighborhood; New York; premature mortality; resident; adult; demography; economics; ethnology; female; income; legislation and jurisprudence; male; middle aged; minority group; New York; poverty; premature mortality; salary and fringe benefit; statistics and numerical data; urban health, Adult; Female; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged; Minority Groups; Mortality, Premature; New York City; Poverty; Residence Characteristics; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; Urban Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303188_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303188

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