Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Minimum wage laws are a promising policy lever to promote a Culture of Health, but few rigorous evaluations have tested whether and how minimum wage policy affects health outcomes. This paper describes an ongoing natural experiment 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, and (3) baseline findings from the study. This prospective study follows a cohort of 974 low-wage workers over four years, using a difference-in-difference analytic approach to compare outcomes among low-wage workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and those in a comparison city (Raleigh, North Carolina). Measures include height/weight, paystubs, two weeks of food purchase receipts, and a survey capturing demographics, health behaviors, and household finance data. 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.