(in German)

The paper investigates whether the introduction of a statutory minimum wage contributed to a reduction of gender inequalities in hourly wages, monthly earnings and working hours. Using the 2014 Structure of Earnings Survey and the 2015 Earnings Survey, a panel data set was generated and difference-in-differences analyses were conducted at the establishment level.

The results show a significant reduction in the gender pay gap of hourly wages due to the introduction of the statutory minimum wage. However, a reducing effect of the minimum wage is only found for the unadjusted gender pay gap, but not for the adjusted gender pay gap. The unadjusted gender earnings gap was reduced by up to 6.1 percentage points more in establishments affected by the minimum wage than in unaffected establishments. The unadjusted gender time gap narrowed by around 2.4 percentage points more in establishments affected by the minimum wage than in unaffected establishments. The introduction of the statutory minimum wage thus led to a reduction in gender inequalities in earnings and working hours.

Please download the article "Effects of the statutory minimum wage on gender inequalities in working hours and earnings" (in German only).