The German generation internship and the minimum wage introduction: Evidence from big data

Abstract

"Effects of the German minimum wage on internships are widely debated. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data concerning internships in Germany. We pursue an innovative approach by using Google search data and analyze the labor supply side, i.e., how the search intensity for internships changed during the time of the minimum wage introduction. While we do not detect an effect on the search for internship positions in general, the distinction between compulsory and voluntary internships gained in importance. Most impressively, a difference-in-differences comparison with other countries in Europe demonstrates that the minimum wage effectively reduced Google search for 'generation internship'. This suggests that the underlying societal phenomenon of a generation entering internships without a perspective for regular jobs has lost in relevance." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bossler, M. & Wegmann, J. (2017): The German generation internship and the minimum wage introduction: Evidence from big data. (LASER discussion papers 105), Erlangen, 23 p., Anhang.