Conclusion
Results show that recent minimum wage increases from the past had no effect on state poverty rates. Therefore, state wide legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour will not be unlikely to reduce poverty and income inequality because most workers who are affected are not poor; many poor workers already earn hourly wage greater than $15 per hour; the minimum wage increase is likely to cause adverse employment effects for the working poor. An overall outcome suggests that the target efficiency of federal minimum wage increases has not improved, and it may actually worsen. When compared to the last federal increase, the current pressure appears less efficient policy. I conclude that further increase in the minimum
Results show that recent minimum wage increases from the past had no effect on state poverty rates. Therefore, state wide legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour will not be unlikely to reduce poverty and income inequality because most workers who are affected are not poor; many poor workers already earn hourly wage greater than $15 per hour; the minimum wage increase is likely to cause adverse employment effects for the working poor. An overall outcome suggests that the target efficiency of federal minimum wage increases has not improved, and it may actually worsen. When compared to the last federal increase, the current pressure appears less efficient policy. I conclude that further increase in the minimum