The minimum wage in the national economy: reasons and changes in Poland

Abstract

Motivation: The minimum wage protect employees from excessively low wages. It helps ensure fair participation in economic development for the general public. The minimum wage in the economy is an essential element in a country’s economic policy. Decisions concerning the implementation and changes in the minimum wage are part of the socio-economic policy of the state. Research on minimum wage relate to its overall impact on the level and structure of wages, employment, productivity at work, the size of the gray economy, the level of poverty and public finances. Factors affecting changes in the minimum wage are formal and non-formal. The question therefore arises which factors are decisive in the Polish economy. Aim: The aim of this paper is to present the essence and causes of changes in the minimum wage in Poland in 2003–2020 with particular regard to formal and non-formal aspects. Results: On the basis of research carried out in Poland, a link between minimum wage and inflation was observed. There is also a fundamental relationship between the minimum wage and average wages in the economy. It has been shown that the minimum wage is not without significance for the impact on public finance sector in Poland.