Leiden University Student Repository

Conti, Michela (2024)

Equal Pay, Equal Play: Exploring the Impact of Minimum Wage Policies on Women’s Labor Force Participation in the European Union

Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)

This study employs descriptive statistics and Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis from 1990 to 2022 to investigate the impact of minimum wage policies on women's labor force participation rates in the European Union (EU). The findings suggest that increases in the minimum wage have a modest but statistically significant positive effect on women's economic activity. Additionally, the analysis indicates that this impact varies depending on national socioeconomic conditions and existing labor market structures. While minimum wage policy alone cannot fully address gender inequality in the labor market, it can be a valuable tool for promoting women's workforce participation, particularly among low-income earners. This research fills a critical gap in the literature and informs policy discussions aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 5.

Minimum Wage

Women's Labor Force

Gender Equality

European Union

Difference-in-Differences (DiD)

Author

Conti, Michela

Faculty

Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs

Supervisors

Di Giuseppe, M.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en