Early results of a natural experiment evaluating the effects of a local minimum wage policy on the diet-related health of low-wage workers, 2018–2020

Caitlin E Caspi; Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca; Julian Wolfson; Lisa J Harnack; Molly De Marco; Rebekah Pratt; Thomas Durfee; Samuel L. Myers

doi:10.1017/S1368980023001520

Public Health Nutrition (Nov 2023)

Early results of a natural experiment evaluating the effects of a local minimum wage policy on the diet-related health of low-wage workers, 2018–2020

Caitlin E Caspi,
Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca,
Julian Wolfson,
Lisa J Harnack,
Molly De Marco,
Rebekah Pratt,
Thomas Durfee,
Samuel L. Myers

Affiliations

Caitlin E Caspi: Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, 1 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 061032, USA Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, 358 Mansfield Dr., Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Maria Fernanda Gombi-Vaca: Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, 1 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 061032, USA
Julian Wolfson: Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, A460 Mayo Building MMC 303, 425 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Lisa J Harnack: ORCiD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, Suite 300, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Molly De Marco: Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1700 M.L.K. Jr Blvd #7426, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC-CH, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Rebekah Pratt: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware St. se, Minneapolis, MN 55445, USA
Thomas Durfee: The Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 270 Humphrey Center, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, 231 Ruttan Hall, 1994 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN, USA
Samuel L. Myers: The Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 270 Humphrey Center, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, 231 Ruttan Hall, 1994 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023001520
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 26
pp. 2573 – 2585

Abstract

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Abstract Objective: The current study presents results of a midpoint analysis of an ongoing natural experiment evaluating the diet-related effects of the Minneapolis Minimum Wage Ordinance, which incrementally increases the minimum wage to $15/h. Design: A difference-in-difference (DiD) analysis of measures collected among low-wage workers in two U.S. cities (one city with a wage increase policy and one comparison city). Measures included employment-related variables (hourly wage, hours worked and non-employment assessed by survey questions with wages verified by paystubs), BMI measured by study scales and stadiometers and diet-related mediators (food insecurity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and daily servings of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain rich foods and foods high in added sugars measured by survey questions). Setting: Minneapolis, Minnesota and Raleigh, North Carolina. Participants: A cohort of 580 low-wage workers (268 in Minneapolis and 312 in Raleigh) who completed three annual study visits between 2018 and 2020. Results: In DiD models adjusted for time-varying and non-time-varying confounders, there were no statistically significant differences in variables of interest in Minneapolis compared with Raleigh. Trends across both cities were evident, showing a steady increase in hourly wage, stable BMI, an overall decrease in food insecurity and non-linear trends in employment, hours worked, SNAP participation and dietary outcomes. Conclusion: There was no evidence of a beneficial or adverse effect of the Minimum Wage Ordinance on health-related variables during a period of economic and social change. The COVID-19 pandemic and other contextual factors likely contributed to the observed trends in both cities.

Published in Public Health Nutrition

ISSN: 1368-9800 (Print); 1475-2727 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine; Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition

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