EPI Analysis: Time To Raise The U.S. Minimum Wage

Economic Policy Institute Analysis: Time To Raise The U.S. Minimum Wage

Analyzing the recent federal minimum wage proposals: $10.10, $9.00, and $9.80–

Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 would give working families and the economy a much-needed boost

An in-depth analysis of the impact raising the federal minimum to $10.10 would have, detailing the demographic breakdown of the 30 million workers who would be affected, the stimulative impact on the economy, and the number of jobs that would be created. [David Cooper and Doug Hall, March 13, 2013].

The restaurant insdustry is one of the larget employers of minimum wage workers in the U.S.

In support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act

A summary of the recent announcement by Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman George Miller of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, with special emphasis on support for the legislation by the President of the US Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and local restaurant owners who have learned that higher wages both reduce turnover and increase productivity [Ross Eisenbrey, March 7, 2013].

A $10.10 minimum wage would give economy (and more low-wage workers) a bigger boost

An analysis of the demographic and economic impact of raising the federal minimum to $10.10, including a contextual analysis showing what the wage would be if it had grown with other important economic benchmarks [Doug Hall and David Cooper, March 5, 2013].

Putting proposed $9.00 minimum wage in context

Putting a $9.00/hour minimum wage in context, comparing the federal minimum to the official poverty line, to worker productivity, to real average wage growth, and the growth in wages for the top 1% of wage earners [David Cooper, February 15, 2013].

Who’d be affected by President Obama’s proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $9.00

The demographic characteristics—age, race/ethnicity, gender, hours worked, incomes—of those who would be affected by increasing the federal minimum to $9.00 [Natalie Sabadish and Doug Hall, February 14, 2013].

Obama throws support behind increasing the minimum wage

Preliminary analysis of the President’s proposal to increase the federal minimum to $9.00, noting the importance of ensuring that the proposed indexing use a method that avoids eroding lower wages [Doug Hall, February 13, 2013].

One million Veterans benefit from raising the minimum wage to $9.80

An analysis of the positive impact raising the federal minimum to $9.80 would have on American Veterans [David Cooper, November 13, 2012].

Women over 50 are the fastest growing group of minimum wage workers.

How raising the federal minimum wage would help working families and give the economy a boost

Two important aspects of increasing the federal minimum wage to $9.80 – the positive economic impact (GDP boost, and related job growth), and the demographic impact of such an increase [Doug Hall and David Cooper, August 14, 2012]

A selection of EPI’s general research on the minimum wage

Raising the minimum wage could improve public health

This guest blog by UC Davis Health Economist J. Paul Leigh compiles evidence that increasing the federal minimum wage would improve public health, and in so doing, shave significant sums off health care expenses. [J.Paul Leigh, March 6, 2013]

American job seekers think increasing the minimum wage would be good for them, and the country

A presentation of public opinion data showing that job seekers (ie, the unemployed) by a very wide margin favor increasing the minimum wage [Aaron Sojourner, February 20, 2013].

Indexing the minimum wage at the state-level to prevent erosion over time

An assessment of the positive impact of increasing state level minimum wages (primarily through indexing), noting that scheduled increases will result in additional GDP of nearly $184 million, creating more than 1,500 jobs [David Cooper, December 26, 2012].

Economic research supports raising the minimum wage

This commentary, originally published in The Hill, summarizes the evolution of literature on the minimum wage, concluding that the Employment Policy Institute’s Michael Saltsman “has a loose regard for facts” [Ross Eisenbrey, July 13, 2012].

Increasing the minimum wage is smart for families and the economy

The general case for increasing the minimum on the grounds that it helps both working families, and the overall economy [Doug Hall, May 19, 2011]

Waiting for Change: The $2.13 Federal Subminimum Wage

Exploration of the antiquated “subminimum wage” of $2.13/hour, that forms the base compensation that tipped workers receive in wages from their employers. Nationally, the subminimum wage has remained unchanged since 1991. State-level “tipped credits” often allow employers to pay much less than state mandated minimum wages [Sylvia Allegretto and Kai Filion, February 23, 2011].

A Stealthy Stimulus: How boosting the minimum wage is helping to stimulate the economy

Articulation of a modest stimulus argument for the minimum wage, applying methodology developed by researchers with the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank to the three steps of the most recent increase in the federal minimum wage from 2007-2009 [Kai Filion, May 28, 2009].

Fix it and Forget it: Index the minimum wage to growth in average wages

An analysis (undertaken in the wake of the 2009 increase) of the importance of indexing the minimum wage to avoid erosion over time, noting that the choice of index makes a substantial difference to the long-term well-being of low-wage workers [Heidi Shierholz, December 17, 2009].

Fact sheet for 2009 minimum wage increase—Minimum Wage Issue Guide

The many dimensions of raising the federal minimum wage in 2009 – the most recent increase to the federal minimum [Kai Filion, July 20, 2009].

Minimum wage trends: Understanding past and contemporary research

An overview of the economics literature on minimum wage through 2006 [Liana Fox, 2006].

http://www.epi.org/issues/minimum-wage/

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