최저임금 인상이 농가경제에 미치는 영향 분석

(Would Raised Minimum Wage Affect Farm Economy: Empirical Analysis Considering Hired Labor Force Demand-Supply Structure)

This study aims at shedding light on anticipated effect of raising minimum wage on farm operation costs and off-farm income in consideration of supply-demand structure and features of hire labor market in agricultural sector. Survey data regarding livestock/greenhouse farms and statistical data are hired to describe current status of hired labor force market structure and income distribution, along with perception of farmers (employers) on the policy change. Key finding are as follows. First, the sizable increment of minimum wage itself does not appear to directly affect farm operation costs and/or off-farm income, which is due to the fact that most farms have already paid higher wages. This study argues that such situation originated from structural short of fired labor supply, which is a more fundamental and imperative problem to be addressed. Second, in spite of its limited direct effect, minimum wage policy change is expected to increase em-ployers’ burdensome via what this study terms ‘reservation wages’, say, farms inevitably have to increase wage level to meet employees’ willingnessto- accept and ‘expectation(premium)’ stemming from raised the policy change. Third, some policy suggestions are made in consideration of shortterm shocks and structural pitfalls to be tackled in the longer term.