Do Minimum Wage Increases Influence Worker Health?

35 Pages Posted: 31 Aug 2016 Last revised: 12 Mar 2023

See all articles by Brady Horn

Brady Horn

University of New Mexico - Department of Economics

Catherine Maclean

Temple University

Michael R. Strain

American Enterprise Institute; IZA

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 2016

Abstract

This study investigates whether minimum wage increases in the United States affect an important non-market outcome: worker health. To study this question, we use data on lesser-skilled workers from the 1993-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys coupled with differences-in-differences and triple-difference models. We find little evidence that minimum wage increases lead to improvements in overall worker health. In fact, we find some evidence that minimum wage increases may decrease some aspects of health, especially among unemployed male workers. We also find evidence that increases reduce mental strain among employed workers.

Suggested Citation

Horn, Brady and Maclean, Catherine and Strain, Michael, Do Minimum Wage Increases Influence Worker Health? (August 2016). NBER Working Paper No. w22578, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2832582

Brady Horn (Contact Author)

University of New Mexico - Department of Economics ( email )

1915 Roma NE/Economics Building
Albuquerque, NM 87131
United States

Catherine Maclean

Temple University ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

Michael Strain

American Enterprise Institute ( email )

1789 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/site/mrstrain/

IZA ( email )

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