## Cross-Country Report on Minimum Wages: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, June 15, 2016_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Cross-Country Report on Minimum Wages: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/cross-country-report-on-minimum-wages-selected-issues-43961)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/cross-country-report-on-minimum-wages-selected-issues-43961/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/cross-country-report-on-minimum-wages-selected-issues-43961/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/cross-country-report-on-minimum-wages-selected-issues-43961/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: June 15, 2016
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475528374.002

---

### Summary findings
- The paper provides a cross-country report on minimum wages in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE).
- In the past few years, many countries in CESEE have increasingly turned to minimum wage policies.
- Statutory minimum wages had been in place at least since the early 1990s in the region, 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.

### Regional comparison and dynamics
- CESEE vs. Western Europe:
  - Minimum wages often affect relatively more workers in CESEE than in Western Europe.
  - Statutory minimum wages in CESEE were present since at least the early 1990s and have shifted from moderate coverage to sharper increases relative to average wages and labor productivity.

### Institutional role and policy implications
- Determination:
  - Governments are the key players in minimum wage determination in CESEE countries.
- Policy attention:
  - The trend of sharp increases in minimum wages relative to average wages and productivity implies important distributive and labor market considerations for policymakers in CESEE.

### Keywords and subjects (as listed)
- Subjects: Employment, Income distribution, Labor, Minimum wages, National accounts, Wage adjustments, Wages
- Keywords: CR, Employment, Income distribution, ISCR, minimum wage hike, minimum wage policy, Minimum wages, minimum-to-average wage ratio, Wage adjustments, wage distribution, wage growth, Wages, Western Europe

### Key statistics and publication identifiers
- Pages: 45
- Volume: 2016
- Issue: 151
- Series: Country Report No. 2016/151
- Stock No: 1EUREA2016001
- ISBN: 9781475528374
- ISSN: 1934-7685
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475528374.002
- Publication date: June 15, 2016

*International Monetary Fund. Cross-Country Report on Minimum Wages: Selected Issues (IMF Staff Country Reports 2016, 151).*

---

## Content in this bundle

- **_cr16151**
  - [_cr16151 (Markdown version)](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/scr/2016/_cr16151.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [_cr16151 (PDF)](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/scr/2016/_cr16151.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/cross-country-report-on-minimum-wages-selected-issues-43961_