, Columnist
Minimum-Wage Warriors See Certainty in Ambiguity
Both sides of the debate seem to find indisputable support every time a new study comes out.
What's the answer?
Photographer: Luke MacGregor/bloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Minimum-wage policy is a fraught issue. People involved in the public debate -- writers, business leaders, politicians and think-tankers -- often defend their positions with a passion and commitment reserved for religious disputes. That makes it challenging to bring data to bear on the conversation. Nevertheless, as the weight of evidence piles up, it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.
The minimum wage is one of the few issues in economics where really good evidence does exist. The wage floor is typically set at the city or state level, so it’s possible to compare places that raise their minimum wages with neighboring places that choose not to.
QuickTake Minimum Wage