The impact of state minimum wage policies on various economic outcomes, including food security, has been extensively researched. However, there has been
limited investigation into the effects of local minimum wages on household food
insecurity. This gap is addressed by this paper, which examines the potential connection between local minimum wage policies and food security in Chicago. Specifically, it analyzes the impact of the 2015 minimum wage law enforced in Chicago’s
city council. To achieve this, a difference-in-difference approach is employed, com-
paring the broader metropolitan statistical area as a control group. The study utilizes
data from the Current Population Survey’s food security supplement. The findings
show that households with lower educational attainment in Chicago experience a
reduced likelihood of food insecurity compared to similar households in the broader
metropolitan statistical area. Nevertheless, the overall sample shows no significant
effect, indicating that local minimum wage policies primarily influence more vulnerable populations

Accepted Oral Presentation