"The WSI Report on Minimum Wages gives an overview of the current developments of minimum wages in Europe and the US. Evaluating the WSI Minimum Wage Database the report provides current data on the level of minimum wages as well as on their developments between 2000 and 2008. Most European countries were faced with quite a dynamic expansion. The increase in minimum wages was often above the increase in average wages. However, in 2008 the trend was somewhat reversed as the speed of growth of minimum wages significantly slowed down. Nevertheless minimum wages continue to be an important instrument to counter the current economic crisis. This is reflected in the national and European debates, which can be outlined in a nutshell: Raising the minimum wage relative to the average national wage-level remains an objective."

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