Minimum Wages in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Primer

Haroon Bhorat, Ravi Kanbur and Benjamin Stanwix ()
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Benjamin Stanwix: Development Policy Research Unit

Working Papers from University of Cape Town, Development Policy Research Unit

Abstract: In this paper we provide a basic overview of minimum wage regimes in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) where data are available, as well as some more detailed work for several countries using household survey data. We begin by providing a brief literature review of more recent minimum wage work, and build on Neumark and Wascher's (2007) meta-review to provide an updated overview of the empirical wage-employment trade-off estimates, focused on LMI countries. We document the level of minimum wages in the region, and present simple Kaitz ratios and use this to make comparisons with wage levels and ratios elsewhere in the world. We then proceed to examine compliance levels in seven SSA countries using household survey data, and again compare the outcomes to estimates for a selection of non-SSA LMI countries. We end by reflecting on possible early lessons for wage-setting regimes in the region, and the research agenda to inform the policy makers on key trade-offs in minimum wage setting.

Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa; minimum wages; wage regulation; employment elasticities; Kaitz indices; compliance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J08 J20 J21 J30 J38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35 pages
Date: 2015-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published in Working Paper Series by the Development Policy Research Unit, June 2015, pages 1-35

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https://commerce.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/con ... PRU%2520WP201503.pdf First version, 2015 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Minimum Wages in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Primer (2017)
Working Paper: MINIMUM WAGES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A PRIMER (2015)
Working Paper: Minimum Wages in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Primer (2015)
Working Paper: Minimum Wages in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Primer (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ctw:wpaper:201503

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