In 1894, New Zealand introduced the world’s first minimum wage. Today, the minimum wage is still well and alive, growing faster than median wages since 2000. Over the same 20+ year period, there has been a substantial compression of the lower half of the wage distribution, leaving those at the bottom closer than ever to those at the top. But how much of this increase in lower wages can we attribute to the rise in minimum wage over time?

COVID-19 restrictions are continuing to ease across the world as vaccination levels rise, permitting restaurants to reopen and consumers to dine. The hospitality sector, although battling to stay afloat with services such as contactless takeaways, has seen a strong recovery around the world as people begin to leave their homes again.