One purported purpose of minimum wage legislation is to increase the incomes of unskilled workers. However, research using US data, plus the bulk of the economic literature, shows that minimum wages usually reduce the job opportunities available to such workers. Youth employment is reduced by 2–3% in response to a 10% increase in the minimum wage. While some workers are lucky enough not to have their hours cut or lose their jobs when minimum wages are imposed or increased, some are not so fortunate. Read the full commentary.
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