People versus machines: the impact of minimum wages on automable jobs

For decades, economists have studied the effects of the minimum wage on employees in the United States. These studies have largely focused on the employment effects for low-skilled workers—with the principal focus on teenagers. Overall, there is some controversy regarding whether disemployment effects exist, with some studies finding no effects, although with more—and more diverse kinds of studies—finding evidence of effects. We explore the extent to which minimum wages induce substitution away from workers whose jobs are more easily automated.