TY - JOUR
T1 - A Difference-in-Difference Study Evaluating the Effect of Minimum Wage Policy on Body Mass Index and Related Health Behaviors
AU - Caspi, Caitlin
AU - De Marco, Molly
AU - Durfee, Thomas
AU - Oyengua, Abayomi
AU - Chapman, Leah
AU - Wolfson, Julian
AU - Myers, Samuel
AU - Harnack, Lisa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Caitlin Caspi and the WAGE$ Study Team.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Minimum wage laws are a promising policy lever to promote health equity, but few rigorous evaluations have tested whether and how minimum wage policy affects health outcomes. This paper describes an ongoing difference-in-difference study evaluating the health effects of the 2017 Minneapolis Minimum Wage Ordinance, which incrementally increases the minimum wage to $15/hr. We present: (1) the conceptual model guiding the study including mediating mechanisms, (2) the study design, (3) baseline findings from the study, and (4) the analytic plan for the remainder of the study. This prospective study follows a cohort of 974 low-wage workers over four years to compare outcomes among low-wage workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and those in a comparison city (Raleigh, North Carolina). Mea-sures include height/weight, employment paystubs, two weeks of food purchase receipts, and a survey capturing data on participant demographics, health behaviors, and household finances. Baseline findings offer a profile of individuals likely to be affected by minimum wage laws. While the study is ongoing, the movement to increase local and state minimum wage is currently high on the policy agenda; evidence is needed to determine what role, if any, such policies play in improving the health of those affected.
AB - Minimum wage laws are a promising policy lever to promote health equity, but few rigorous evaluations have tested whether and how minimum wage policy affects health outcomes. This paper describes an ongoing difference-in-difference study evaluating the health effects of the 2017 Minneapolis Minimum Wage Ordinance, which incrementally increases the minimum wage to $15/hr. We present: (1) the conceptual model guiding the study including mediating mechanisms, (2) the study design, (3) baseline findings from the study, and (4) the analytic plan for the remainder of the study. This prospective study follows a cohort of 974 low-wage workers over four years to compare outcomes among low-wage workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and those in a comparison city (Raleigh, North Carolina). Mea-sures include height/weight, employment paystubs, two weeks of food purchase receipts, and a survey capturing data on participant demographics, health behaviors, and household finances. Baseline findings offer a profile of individuals likely to be affected by minimum wage laws. While the study is ongoing, the movement to increase local and state minimum wage is currently high on the policy agenda; evidence is needed to determine what role, if any, such policies play in improving the health of those affected.
KW - Minimum wage
KW - difference-in-difference
KW - obesity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119380520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85119380520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1353/obs.2021.0032
DO - 10.1353/obs.2021.0032
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85119380520
SN - 2767-3324
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 18
JO - Observational Studies
JF - Observational Studies
IS - 2
ER -