The Effects of Minimum Wages on the Health of Working Teenagers

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of minimum wage increases on the self-reported health of teenage workers. We use a difference-in-differences estimation strategy and data from the Current Population Survey, and disaggregate the sample by race/ethnicity and gender to uncover the differential effects of changes in the minimum wage on health. We find that white women are more likely to report better health with a minimum wage increase while Hispanic men report worse health.

Keywords: minimum wage, self-reported health, teenagers

JEL Classification: I10, I18, J15, J16