One hundred years of dynamic minimum wage regulation: Lessons from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States

Since the first minimum wage legislation was introduced in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States in the early 1900s, minimum wage regulation has attracted controversy. Opponents of minimum wages use market theory to defend their position, while supporters justify state intervention based on principles of equity and social good. This article examines how these two ideological positions have influenced the fixing of wages, and the ensuing results. As little comparative research exists on the origins, evolution and current systems of minimum wage regulation in the three countries, this article aims to address the gap in the literature.