Overview: The Reason Not to Raise the Minimum Wage

Anti-minimum wage statements from three influential business

organizations.

The Minimum Wage: Putting the First Run on the Ladder of Success Out of Reach. Warren Meyer

Minimum wages are not what is needed--or in some cases, even wanted--by low-wage workers and by the unemployed in this economy, according to this blogger. February 2011

Georgia has highest teen jobless rate. newtoncitizen.com

A teen unemployment rate of 38% is blamed on the recession and on greater minimum wage increases than in other states. June 2011

The Minimum Wage: Institutional Racism at Work. Bacon's Rebellion

A blog post on the minimum wage and the accusation of institutional racism. May 2011

EITC vs. Minimum Wage: Where Should Advocates Place Their Bets? Michael Saltzman

Arguments that the Earned Income Tax Credit is more effective than the minimum wage at targeting the people who really need assistance. February 2011 

Do we really need a minimum wage? Christian Science Monitor blog

Without it, this argument goes, almost no wages or work conditions would change. May 2011

Finally, a Sensible Solution to Unemployment. New American

A recap of the employment impact of minimum wage increases in the context of the 2010 economy. September 2010

The $6-an-Hour Health Minimum Wage. John Goodman's Health Policy Blog

The high cost of  the new mandated employer health coverage combined with the regular minimum wage. October 2010

Washington A.G. to bring in counsel to work on minimum wage defense. legalnewsline.com

A legal battle looms over Washington state's obligation to adjust the state minimum wage according to changes in the Consumer Price Index. November 2010

The Right Minimum Wage. George F. Will

From The Washington Post, the columnist foresees passage of an increase only because of New Deal nostalgia and President Bush's reluctance to veto a feel-good issue.  January 2007

The impact of the recent federal minimum wage increases on the tuna packing industry in American Samoa.  2009-2010

The Living Wage. Paul Krugman

From 1998, Krugman reviews a book on the living wage and analyzes what he thinks is actually driving the living wage/minimum wage movement. 

Gunnar Myrdal on the Minimum Wage. David Henderson

A blog about Myrdal's analysis of the new federal minimum wage and Black labor in the south in the 1930s and 40s. January 2010

Ignoring Economics. Thomas Sowell

From 2005, an argument that the minimum wage reduces the hiring of those who are disadvantaged not only by low skills but also by discrimination.  Sowell's examples include unemployed Muslim youth who rioted in France in October 2005 as well as young African-American males in the U. S.   

 From the Heritage Foundation in 2005, an argument for abolishing the federal minimum wage and allowing the states to set theirs at any level.