The Effects of Minimum Wages on the Distribution of Family Incomes: A Nonparametric Analysis

David Neumark, Mark Schweitzer and William Wascher

Journal of Human Resources, 2005, vol. 40, issue 4, 867-894

Abstract: An oft-stated goal of the minimum wage is to raise incomes of poor or low-income families. We present nonparametric estimates of the effects of minimum wages on the distribution of family income relative to needs in the United States. Although minimum wages increase the incomes of some poor families, the evidence indicates that their overall net effect is, if anything, to increase the proportions of families with incomes below or near the poverty line. It would appear that reductions in the proportions of families that are poor or near-poor should not be counted among the potential benefits of minimum wages.

Date: 2005
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Related works:
Working Paper: The effects of minimum wages on the distribution of family incomes: a nonparametric analysis (2004)
Working Paper: The Effects of Minimum Wages on the Distribution of Family Incomes: A Non-Parametric Analysis (1998)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:40:y:2005:i:4:p:867-894

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