Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

| Peer-Reviewed

Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Received: 18 May 2021 Accepted: 7 June 2021 Published: 16 June 2021

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The article aims to demonstrate the methodological constraints that arise from social science research into the minimum wage. We exam the functionality and the various theoretical approaches as to its usefulness and way of implementation especially in the European Union before and after the 2008 economic crisis. The working hypothesis is that minimum wage has been used for most countries up until now as a growth factor, operating as “treatment” to the distortions of the open market economy. We first feature a historical approach of the minimum wage policies, then we discuss the main methodological concerns around the subject focusing on the EU new economic policies in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. In this context we also discuss the harmonized policies of a European minimum wage framework as well as the motion for a living wage. Then the article focuses to the policies driven during the pandemic. We found that during the COVID-19 crisis we had a paradigm shift in the European Union as well as in USA, from the strict neoclassical economic policies to more inclusive ones. Concluded that the minimum wage is a social policy institution, while at the same time being considered as part of the wage policy regulated by the free market. The minimum wage has a dual role, while it is part of economic policy, so it is generally determined by the free market and the social partners, at the same time it is called to cure distortions that the free market itself creates in the most vulnerable social strata.

Published in	Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
Page(s)	74-79
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Minimum Wage, Neoliberalism, Social Policy, 2008 Crisis, Living Wage

References

[1]	Andersen, E. (1990). The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Princeston University Press.
[2]	Anker, R., & Anker, M. (2017). Living Wages around the World: Manual for Measurement. Edward Elgar Publisher.
[3]	Ayala, L., Garcia-Serrano, C., & Martinez-Virto, L. (2021). The Effectiveness of Minimum Income Benefits in Poverty Reduction in Spain. International Journal of Social Welfare, 152-169.
[4]	Clary, B. J. (2009). Smith and Living Wages: Arguments in Support of a Mandated Living Wage. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 1063-1084.
[5]	Commission, E. (2010). Council Recommendation on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union. Part I of the Europe 2020 Integrates Guidelines. European Commission.
[6]	Commission, E. (2011). Labor Market Developments in Europe, 2011. European Economy.
[7]	Commission, E. (2012). Labor Market Developments in Europe 2012. European Union.
[8]	Commission, E. (2020). Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on adequate minimum wages in the European Union. Impact Assessment. Brussels: European Commission.
[9]	Douglas, P. (1938). The Economic Theory of Wage Regulation. University of Chicago Law, 5 (2), 184-218.
[10]	Eichengreen, B. (2014). The Eurozone Crisis: The Theory of Optimum Currency Areas Bites Back. Notenstein Academy White Papers Series.
[11]	Featherstone, K. (2015). External Conditionality and the Debt Crisis: The "Troika" and Public Administration Reform in Greece. Journal of European Public Policy, 22 (3), 295-314.
[12]	Fric, K. (2018). Industrial Relations. Statutory Minimum Wage. Luxembourg: EUROFOUND.
[13]	Garnero, A., Kampelmann, S., & Rycx, F. (2014, August). Minimum Wage Systems and Earnings Inequalities: Does Institutional Diversity Matter? Discussion Paper No. 8419.
[14]	Gyes, G., & Schulten, T. (2015). Wage Bargaining under the new European Economic Governance. ETUI.
[15]	Höpner, M. S. (2018). Transnational Coordination for Stabilization of the Euro? There wasn't, there wasn't, there wasn't going to be. Cologne Description for Sociology and Sociopsychology (in German), 70, 414-437.
[16]	IMF. (2015). World economic outlook: Adjusting to lower commodity prices. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.
[17]	International Labor Office. (1923). Part XIII of the Treaty of Peace of Versailles. Geneva.
[18]	International Labor Office. (2014). Minimum Wage Systems. International Labour Conference, 103rd Session. ILO.
[19]	Ioannou A., C. (2019). Collective Bargaining decentralization and wage adjustment for internal devaluation. In: H. Voskeritsian, P. Kapotas, & C. Niforou, Greek Employment Relations in Crisis. Problems, Challenges and Prospects. New York: Routledge.
[20]	Müller, T. S. (2019). An end to wage policy interventionism? Perspectives for a wage policy orientation in Europe. In: N. Soukup, Neoliberal Union or Social Europe? Approaches and obstacles to a social realignment of the EU (In German) . Wien. 55-79.
[21]	Marinakis, A. (2009). The Role of ILO in the Development of Minimum Wages. Santiago: ILO.
[22]	Neumark, D., & Washer, W. L. (2008). Minimum Wage. Cambridge, London: The MIT Press.
[23]	Schulten, T. (2012). European Minimum Wage Policy: A Concept for Wage-Led Growth and Fairs Wages in Europe. International Journal of Labour Research, 4 (1), 85-103.
[24]	Schulten, T. M. (2013). A New Interventionism? The Impact of the New Economic Governance on Wages and Collective Bargaining. Στο N. V. David, Social Developments in the European Union 2012). Brussels: ETUI, 181-213.
[25]	Schulten, T., Bispinck, R., & Schäfer, C. (2006). Mindestlohne in Europa. Hamburg: VSA-Verlag.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou. (2021). Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor. Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(3), 74-79. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou. Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2021, 9(3), 74-79. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou. Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor. Humanit Soc Sci. 2021;9(3):74-79. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13,
  author = {Maria Georgia Antonopoulou},
  title = {Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {74-79},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20210903.13},
  abstract = {The article aims to demonstrate the methodological constraints that arise from social science research into the minimum wage. We exam the functionality and the various theoretical approaches as to its usefulness and way of implementation especially in the European Union before and after the 2008 economic crisis. The working hypothesis is that minimum wage has been used for most countries up until now as a growth factor, operating as “treatment” to the distortions of the open market economy. We first feature a historical approach of the minimum wage policies, then we discuss the main methodological concerns around the subject focusing on the EU new economic policies in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. In this context we also discuss the harmonized policies of a European minimum wage framework as well as the motion for a living wage. Then the article focuses to the policies driven during the pandemic. We found that during the COVID-19 crisis we had a paradigm shift in the European Union as well as in USA, from the strict neoclassical economic policies to more inclusive ones. Concluded that the minimum wage is a social policy institution, while at the same time being considered as part of the wage policy regulated by the free market. The minimum wage has a dual role, while it is part of economic policy, so it is generally determined by the free market and the social partners, at the same time it is called to cure distortions that the free market itself creates in the most vulnerable social strata.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor
AU  - Maria Georgia Antonopoulou
Y1  - 2021/06/16
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 74
EP  - 79
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
AB  - The article aims to demonstrate the methodological constraints that arise from social science research into the minimum wage. We exam the functionality and the various theoretical approaches as to its usefulness and way of implementation especially in the European Union before and after the 2008 economic crisis. The working hypothesis is that minimum wage has been used for most countries up until now as a growth factor, operating as “treatment” to the distortions of the open market economy. We first feature a historical approach of the minimum wage policies, then we discuss the main methodological concerns around the subject focusing on the EU new economic policies in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. In this context we also discuss the harmonized policies of a European minimum wage framework as well as the motion for a living wage. Then the article focuses to the policies driven during the pandemic. We found that during the COVID-19 crisis we had a paradigm shift in the European Union as well as in USA, from the strict neoclassical economic policies to more inclusive ones. Concluded that the minimum wage is a social policy institution, while at the same time being considered as part of the wage policy regulated by the free market. The minimum wage has a dual role, while it is part of economic policy, so it is generally determined by the free market and the social partners, at the same time it is called to cure distortions that the free market itself creates in the most vulnerable social strata.
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou

Department of Sociology, Panteion University of Social and Political Science, Athens, Greece

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou. (2021). Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor. Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(3), 74-79. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou. Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2021, 9(3), 74-79. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Maria Georgia Antonopoulou. Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor. Humanit Soc Sci. 2021;9(3):74-79. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13,
  author = {Maria Georgia Antonopoulou},
  title = {Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {74-79},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20210903.13},
  abstract = {The article aims to demonstrate the methodological constraints that arise from social science research into the minimum wage. We exam the functionality and the various theoretical approaches as to its usefulness and way of implementation especially in the European Union before and after the 2008 economic crisis. The working hypothesis is that minimum wage has been used for most countries up until now as a growth factor, operating as “treatment” to the distortions of the open market economy. We first feature a historical approach of the minimum wage policies, then we discuss the main methodological concerns around the subject focusing on the EU new economic policies in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. In this context we also discuss the harmonized policies of a European minimum wage framework as well as the motion for a living wage. Then the article focuses to the policies driven during the pandemic. We found that during the COVID-19 crisis we had a paradigm shift in the European Union as well as in USA, from the strict neoclassical economic policies to more inclusive ones. Concluded that the minimum wage is a social policy institution, while at the same time being considered as part of the wage policy regulated by the free market. The minimum wage has a dual role, while it is part of economic policy, so it is generally determined by the free market and the social partners, at the same time it is called to cure distortions that the free market itself creates in the most vulnerable social strata.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Minimum Wage Research, a Methodological Path: A Social Institution and a Hidden Growth Factor
AU  - Maria Georgia Antonopoulou
Y1  - 2021/06/16
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 74
EP  - 79
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20210903.13
AB  - The article aims to demonstrate the methodological constraints that arise from social science research into the minimum wage. We exam the functionality and the various theoretical approaches as to its usefulness and way of implementation especially in the European Union before and after the 2008 economic crisis. The working hypothesis is that minimum wage has been used for most countries up until now as a growth factor, operating as “treatment” to the distortions of the open market economy. We first feature a historical approach of the minimum wage policies, then we discuss the main methodological concerns around the subject focusing on the EU new economic policies in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. In this context we also discuss the harmonized policies of a European minimum wage framework as well as the motion for a living wage. Then the article focuses to the policies driven during the pandemic. We found that during the COVID-19 crisis we had a paradigm shift in the European Union as well as in USA, from the strict neoclassical economic policies to more inclusive ones. Concluded that the minimum wage is a social policy institution, while at the same time being considered as part of the wage policy regulated by the free market. The minimum wage has a dual role, while it is part of economic policy, so it is generally determined by the free market and the social partners, at the same time it is called to cure distortions that the free market itself creates in the most vulnerable social strata.
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download