通过构建资本可以自由流动而劳动分割、一个地区实行最低工资制度的两区域世代交叠模型,考察了最低工资对经济增长的影响。发现,在最低工资高于市场均衡工资时,实行最低工资制度后,该区域劳动需求下降,就业减少,出现失业,同时资本回报率下降,低于另一区域。因而,资本流向另一地区。这一流动使本区域资本回报率上升,而另一区域资本回报率下降,同时使另一地区工资上升。最终两地区的资本收益率相等,工资均为最低工资水平。对经济增长的影响则取决于最低工资水平,最低工资较低时,促进经济增长,较高时则阻碍经济增长。
Using a overlapping-generations model in which capital can flow,labor can not,and only one region with minimum wages,we study the impact of minimum wage on growth. We state that if a minimum wage is above the equilibrium wage,it reduces labor demand,causes unemployment,and decreases the return rate of capital. So,capital flows from a region with minimum wage to a region without. The capital flows increases the return rate of capital in the region with minimum wages,whereas decreases the return rate of capital in the other. Thus the wage and the return rate of capital in both regions equal at the end. The impact on growth is ambiguous. However it can speed up growth if the minimum wage is set properly.