Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/126668 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 9576
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
For two different regulatory standards, we examine the optimal minimum wage in a competitive labour market when the government is uncertain about supply and demand. Solutions are related to underlying supply and demand conditions, and the extent of uncertainty and of rationing efficiency. We show that regulatory uncertainty does not diminish the rationale for intervention, but may require a low minimum wage that may not bind. With expected earnings-maximization, greater uncertainty widens the range of parameter values for which a minimum wage should be set. With expected worker surplus-maximization and sufficiently efficient rationing, a minimum wage should always be set.
Subjects: 
minimum wage
uncertainty
worker surplus
JEL: 
J38
J31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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