Self-Perceived Health Status among Young Adults: Does a Differentiated Minimum Wage Cut Matter?

Abstract

The paper investigates whether the imposition of a higher minimum wage cut on very young adults (17-24) differentiates their self-perceived health status compared to that of young adults (25-29). We use data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority over the period between 2010 and 2014 in Greece. Our results are clear: a higher decrease of the minimum wage for very young adults is associated with a higher possibility of an increasing fair reported health status. This possibility is significant only when potential workers are considered; however, this possibility is not an issue neither among young employees nor for inactive young adults.

JEL classification: I10, I18, J08