Date of Award
6-2025
Culminating Project Type
Starred Paper
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Applied Economics: M.S.
Department
Economics
College
School of Public Affairs
First Advisor
Kenneth Rebeck
Second Advisor
Mana Komai-Molle
Third Advisor
Ratha Artatrana
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Minimum wage, wage disparities, educational attainment, labor market policies, income inequality, workforce development, economic mobility
Abstract
This study examines the impact of minimum wage increases on wage disparities, with a particular focus on whether or not the increases in minimum wage reduce the wage gap found between the education levels attained by adults. Using wage data from 2013 and 2019, the analysis evaluates how wage growth varied between workers with less than a high school diploma and those with a high school diploma but no college degree using a difference-in-difference empirical estimation approach. The findings suggest that minimum wage hikes significantly benefit low-wage earners, particularly individuals with lower educational attainment, contributing to a reduction in wage disparities. While minimum wage policies serve as a tool for reducing income inequality, the study underscores the need for complementary measures such as gender pay equity initiatives, workforce development programs, and policies that promote lifelong learning. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on labor market policies and provide insights for future research and policymaking aimed at fostering economic mobility and wage equity.
Recommended Citation
Noorzada, Ahmad Milad, "The effect of minimum wage increases on wage disparities across different education attainment levels in Minnesota" (2025). Culminating Projects in Economics. 30.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/econ_etds/30
