The impact of minimum wages on overall health and well-being
Global evidence from the Gallup World Poll
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4595015 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Panagiotis Sotirakopoulos (0000-0001-7821-2845, Curtin University), Cahit Guven (0000-0001-8346-772X), Aydogan Ulker (0000-0001-5787-8760, Deakin University), C Graham (0000-0001-6088-1960, Brookings Institution) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 375 |
| Pages | 118064 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Science & Medicine (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118064 |
| PMID | 40245776 |
| OpenAlex | W4409351939 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 39 |
We examine the impact of minimum wage increases on the overall self-reported health and subjective well-being of low-skilled workers using the Gallup World Poll from 2009 to 2020. We identify effects using within-country changes over time and cross-country variations in the timing and intensity of minimum wage increases across 87 countries. Our findings suggest that minimum wage increases benefit health and certain dimensions of subjective well-being. Specifically, we estimate a range of specifications and find that a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage leads to an increase in self-reported health ranging from 0 % to 1 % and an increase in satisfaction with the standard of living between 1 % and 6 %, at the outcome means. Minimum wage increases are linked to higher incomes, a lower likelihood of overtime work, enhanced social interactions, and more positive daily experiences. These benefits are especially significant in countries with stronger rule of law, among male workers, and for individuals in nations with free and universal healthcare access. A series of sensitivity and placebo tests confirm the robustness of these findings
Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Political science · Public health · Employment and Welfare Studies · Global Health Care Issues · Medicine · Retirement, Disability, and Employment
Subjective Well-Being and Income
Income and well-being
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The effects of recent minimum wage increases on self-reported health in the United States
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Impact of the minimum wage increase on smoking behaviour
Chinese minimum wages and health
Racial, ethnic, and gender differences in the association between higher state minimum wages and health and mental well-being in US adults with low educational attainment
The Economic Effects of a Citywide Minimum Wage
Income, Health, and Well-Being around the World
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |