LogFAQs > #949928028

The biggest problem with all of the arguments for or against raising minimum wage is that they all over generalize a very complex action (raising the minimum wage) which will affect different industries in vastly different ways, AND different businesses in different ways.

for example- opposition to minimum wage often cites that raising it will cost jobs because employers will automate. That is true and untrue (and this is as guilty of being a generalization as the above but its at least slightly less so), the truth is that it depends on the industry. AND the business and public perception of the business and if it is even going to be affected by that and many more. First you have the cost for automation. How much how long how long to recoup the cost and the cost of upkeep.
I can toss in more and more factors but the simple truth is that this cost will be diff for every industry and there will be a point where it is cost prohibitive for smaller businesses to do so but for larger ones to be able to. Then there is also the public relations angle? Will the public care? Will it matter? If you are selling or servicing to other companies and the general public has never heard of you then you are in a diff position than a store where people giving heavy foot traffic.

you can do that with every argument for or against. And I have not even fleshed out the above piece. Just mentioned enough to show that any argument that generalizes what effect minimum wage increases will have on a general one size fits all level is not going to be accurate because its over broad.

i dont have any answers but I think we arent asking the right questions because we arent digging deep enough into the effects and maybe trying to solve a complex issue with diff effects with an oversimplified solution.

maybe create certain tax incentives if the lowest paid employees pay rates including benefits are meeting certain criteria. And that rate set would be regional. The framework set by the state but the calculation method would be based on the numbers of an area.

i dont know thats an idea I pulled out of my ass while typing this as an example. But its something more than trying to solve a debate with an oversimplified argument to a complex policy that will have a vastly different effect on many people and many industries. Will it have an effect on a state where the minimum wage is 14.50? Probably not. Would a state with a significantly lower standard of living see Workers having a bigger boost with 15? Of course.
i just think people need to start talking about this with real analysis.

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"I pet my dog I don't eat it" ~ Lemone