{
  "title": "Minimum Wage as a Wage Policy Tool in Japan",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, November 28, 2016",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/index.md",
  "summary": "Using prefectural data, we study the potential impact on wage dynamics of the planned minimum wage increase policy in Japan. Our main result is that stepping up minimum wage growth from 2 to the planned 3 percent per year could raise wage growth by 0.5 percent annually.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary and main finding",
      "content": "- Using prefectural data, the study assesses the potential impact on wage dynamics of the planned minimum wage increase policy in Japan.\n- Main result: stepping up minimum wage growth from 2 to the planned 3 percent per year could raise wage growth by 0.5 percent annually."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- Given Japan’s need for income policies to generate vigorous wage-price dynanics, reflecting the 2 percent inflation target, the minimum wage plan should be accompanied by other income policies.\n- Recommended complementary measures:\n  - Adopt more “unorthodox” income policies alongside minimum wage increases.\n  - Implement a “soft target” for private sector wage growth through a “comply -or-explain mechanism” for wage growth.\n  - Increase public wages in line with the inflation target."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Research context and scope",
      "content": "- Data and approach:\n  - Analysis uses prefectural data to study wage dynamics under the planned minimum wage increase.\n- Subjects covered:\n  - Labor, Minimum wages, Real wages, Wage adjustments, Wages\n- Keywords explicitly used in the study:\n  - Abenomics, distribution studies, government, income policies, minimum wage, Minimum wages, percentile data, real wage, Real wages, wage, Wage adjustments, wage distribution, wage growth, wage-price dynamics, Wages, worker, WP\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Minimum Wage as a Wage Policy Tool in Japan\n  - Minimum Wage as a Wage Policy Tool in Japan (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Minimum Wage as a Wage Policy Tool in Japan (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Chie Aoyagi, Giovanni Ganelli, Nour Tawk",
    "Published: November 28, 2016",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475555349.001",
    "Using prefectural data, the study assesses the potential impact on wage dynamics of the planned minimum wage increase policy in Japan.",
    "Main result: stepping up minimum wage growth from 2 to the planned 3 percent per year could raise wage growth by 0.5 percent annually.",
    "Given Japan’s need for income policies to generate vigorous wage-price dynanics, reflecting the 2 percent inflation target, the minimum wage plan should be accompanied by other income policies.",
    "Recommended complementary measures:",
    "Data and approach:",
    "Subjects covered:",
    "Keywords explicitly used in the study:",
    "**Minimum Wage as a Wage Policy Tool in Japan**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "Minimum Wage as a Wage Policy Tool in Japan",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2016/_wp16232.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2016/_wp16232.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2016/_wp16232.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/minimum-wage-as-a-wage-policy-tool-in-japan-44412/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-17T17:59:34.939Z"
}