Agreeing About The Minimum Wage

It appears that questioning the merits of raising the minimum wage is a phenomenon that stretches across the ideological spectrum (hat tip: The Corner). Christina Romer, who once served as the president’s chairman of economic advisers, believes that a minimum wage increase would not be as great a boon to poorer Americans as some would lead us to believe.

Lara Granich, of Missouri Jobs with Justice, supports raising the minimum wage in Missouri and presumably throughout the country. Granich contends that in Missouri, “the modestly higher wages received by low-paid workers in Missouri this year will go right back into the economy, generating economic growth as these workers put food on their tables and raise their families.” On the contrary, Romer contends that “. . . economic analysis raises questions about whether a higher minimum wage will achieve better outcomes for the economy and reduce poverty.”

That is the same conclusion that David Neumark reached in his 2012 study for the Show-Me Institute examining whether Missouri should raise its minimum wage. Neumark stated in his study that “. . . research fails to establish that higher minimum wages help poor or low-income families.” Neumark also stated that “there is simply no evidence” to conclude that raising the minimum wage will stimulate the economy.

Raising the minimum wage is an appealing idea to many voters. However, that is not the case with many economists. There are better ways to help alleviate poverty; increasing the minimum wage is not one of them.