in general this ratio tends to be higher in less developed countries reflecting the fact that the median wage earner is relatively lowpaid chapter in about of employees were earning the minimum wage down from above in a level close to that in france slightly above latvia and much higher than in estonia after some decrease in that share increased again in reaching about of fulltime employees but minimum wages can also come with efficiency loss if set at a level that keep workers away from employment which might especially be the case in labourintensive industries competing in international markets in general minimum wage studies on central eastern and southeastern european countries tend to find some disemployment effects although strong conclusions cannot be drawn raei etal