How are minimum wages set? Updated

Countries set minimum wages in different ways, and some countries set different wages for different groups of workers

University of Sussex, UK and IZA, Germany

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Elevator pitch

The minimum wage has never been as high on the political agenda as it is today, with politicians in Germany, the UK, the US, and other OECD countries implementing substantial increases in the rate. One reason for the rising interest is the growing consensus among economists and policymakers that minimum wages, set at the right level, may help low paid workers without harming employment prospects. But how should countries set their minimum wage rate? The processes that countries use to set their minimum wage rate and structure differ greatly, as do the methods for adjusting it. The different approaches have merits and shortcomings.

The global prevalence of different minimum wage setting regimes

Key findings

Pros

Of the numerous methods to set minimum wages, many countries now rely on an expert body to advise governments on the appropriate rate.

The “bite” of the minimum wage—the ratio of the minimum to the median wage—varies substantially across countries.

Minimum wages that vary for different groups of workers (such as by age and sector) can target low wages and poverty better than a simpler rate structure can.

The upside of government involvement in rate setting is that they can potentially take bolder steps than an evidenced based expert body but do risk politicizing the minimum wage.

Cons

Using a formula to set the minimum wage leaves little flexibility to respond to changing labor market conditions but can ensure low wage workers do not get left behind.

When the minimum wage is set by the government rather than by a formula or with the advice of a third party, there is a risk of setting it on political rather than economic grounds.

Minimum wage rates that vary for different groups of workers can be too complex to administer and may lead to non-compliance because of ignorance about the correct rate.

Comparable evidence on the effectiveness of different approaches is almost impossible to obtain, as many influences other than the minimum wage are at play.

Author's main message

The minimum wage has become an accepted way to tackle the extremes of low pay in many countries, but there is considerable variability in the way minimum wages are set around the world. Methods include formulas, government rate setting, union bargained rates, and rates recommended by an expert body. Expert bodies whose recommendations are informed by a strong evidence base have the advantage that they can respond to changing economic conditions and build consensus among businesses and workers without political interference, but they are unlikely to take the sort of bolder steps seen in the UK, Germany and other countries in recent years.

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Countries