Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/193906 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Citation: 
[Journal:] E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies [ISSN:] 2280-4056 [Volume:] 1 [Issue:] 3-4 [Publisher:] ADAPT University Press [Place:] Modena [Year:] 2012 [Pages:] 263-289
Publisher: 
ADAPT University Press, Modena
Abstract: 
In this paper we explore the link between firm labour productivity and the introduction of the NMW over a more than ten-year span covering longer periods before and after the NMW introduction. We use the FAME dataset which contains firm level micro data to calculate firm-specific labour productivity measures and then aggregate them to the level of the low-paying sectors as identified by the Low Pay Commission (LPC). These include several service industries, agriculture and food processing, textiles and clothing manufacturing. Our results from difference-in-differences analysis show that, with notable exceptions, aggregate LPC sector labour productivity has been significantly positively affected by the NMW in the long run; the effects' magnitudes vary by sector. In most of the sectors the impact is statistically significant and positive with the exception of hairdressing, leisure and agriculture where the impact is positive but not statistically significant. We also analyse labour productivity by firm-size groups, according to the LPC classification and find substantial heterogeneity in responses to the NMW over time as the increases in productivity are more marked in larger firms.
Subjects: 
Minimum wage
Low-pay sectors
Productivity
UK
JEL: 
J08
J31
J38
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version
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