Jean-Michel Cousineau

Occupational Hazard and Wage Compensating Differentials

This paper is the first study investigating wage-risk relationships for both fatal and nonfatal work-related accidents on the basis of a large occupational data bank. Risk variables cover the whole array of potential configurations found in the literature, while based on the compensated accidents over a four-year period for the province of Quebec. The authors first estimate the model using the standard techniques developed by previous researchers and then submit their initial results to additional tests that, in the past, had disturbing effects. It becomes apparent, however, that in all but one case the results remain positive and significant. Copyright 1992 by MIT Press.

The determinants of minimum wage rates

This paper attempts to test the degree of responsiveness of Canadian provincial governments to different political groups in establishing their relative minimum wage policies over the 1975–1982 period. It discusses alternative explanations of minimum wage policies and focuses on the political market approach, where women, youth, small business and unions play a role. An econometric model is specified and estimated on pooled annual time series and cross-section data for nine provinces in Canada. The results tend to support most of the hypotheses.