| Abstract: |
Since China promulgated new minimum wage regulations in 2004, the magnitude
and frequency of changes in the minimum wage have been substantial, both over
time and across jurisdictions. This paper uses county-level minimum wage panel
data and a longitudinal household survey from 16 representative provinces to
estimate the employment effects of minimum wage changes in China over the
period of 2004 to 2009. In contrast to the mixed results of previous studies
using provincial-level data, we present evidence that minimum wage changes
have significant adverse effects on employment in the Eastern and Central
regions of China, and result in disemployment for females, young adults, and
low-skilled workers. |