IMF Staff Country Reports

Cross-Country Report on Minimum Wages: Selected Issues

Publication Date:

June 15, 2016

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

This paper provides a cross-country report on minimum wages. In the past few years, many countries in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) have increasingly turned to minimum wage policies. Throughout the region, statutory minimum wages had been in place at least since the early 1990s, but they were typically set at relatively moderate levels and affected relatively few workers. Minimum wages have risen sharply relative to both average wages and labor productivity. Minimum wages often affect relatively more workers in CESEE than in Western Europe. Governments are the key players in the minimum wage determination in CESEE countries.

Series:

Country Report No. 2016/151

Subject:

Employment Income distribution Labor Minimum wages National accounts Wage adjustments Wages