Changes

*In a study of over 600,000 data points, focusing on 16 to 24-year-old males without a high school diploma, the Employment Policies Institute found that every 10 percent increase in a federal or state minimum wage decreased black youth employment by 6.5 percent. [https://panampost.com/editor/2016/03/28/history-minimum-wage-harmed-blacks/ US History Shows the Minimum Wage Has Harmed the Black Community] - PanAm Post

*In a study of over 600,000 data points, focusing on 16 to 24-year-old males without a high school diploma, the Employment Policies Institute found that every 10 percent increase in a federal or state minimum wage decreased black youth employment by 6.5 percent. [https://panampost.com/editor/2016/03/28/history-minimum-wage-harmed-blacks/ US History Shows the Minimum Wage Has Harmed the Black Community] - PanAm Post

The minimum wage does not always increase.  In the summer of 2017 in Missouri, the minimum wage actually permanently decreased from $10 an hour (which was scheduled to increase to $11 per hour in January 2018), to only $7.70 an hour.<ref>http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/minimum-wage-set-to-drop-in-missouri/ar-BBDP27V?OCID=ansmsnnews11</ref>

The minimum wage does not always increase.  In the summer of 2017 in Missouri, the minimum wage actually permanently decreased from $10 an hour (which was scheduled to increase to $11 per hour in January 2018), to only $7.70 an hour.<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/minimum-wage-set-to-drop-in-missouri/ar-BBDP27V?OCID=ansmsnnews11</ref>

More than 90% of countries—most of which have unsuccessful economies—have minimum wage laws.  The minimum wage in the United States was most recently raised to $7.25/hr, on July 24, 2009. At this rate, a worker can earn at least $15,080.00 for the year based on a 40-hour work week, and more if he works overtime.  The minimum wage is higher in many states, such as [[New Jersey]], due to state minimum wage laws. The national minimum wage laws are based in the powers vested in Congress by the [[Commerce Clause]].  

More than 90% of countries—most of which have unsuccessful economies—have minimum wage laws.  The minimum wage in the United States was most recently raised to $7.25/hr, on July 24, 2009. At this rate, a worker can earn at least $15,080.00 for the year based on a 40-hour work week, and more if he works overtime.  The minimum wage is higher in many states, such as [[New Jersey]], due to state minimum wage laws. The national minimum wage laws are based in the powers vested in Congress by the [[Commerce Clause]].  

==Empirical evidence from the 2009 recession==

==Empirical evidence from the 2009 recession==

The 2009 recession gave a compelling picture of how an excessive minimum wage can exacerbate the employment climate.  None of the five states with the lowest unemployment rates in May 2009, all below 5.5%, had a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage of $6.55. Five of the six states with the highest unemployment rates, all above 11.2%, had minimum wages above the federal minimum wage. [[Oregon]], with a minimum wage of $8.40, had an unemployment rate of 12.4%. Generally, states with a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage had unemployment rates that were higher than states that did not have a higher minimum wage.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/lau/ Bureau of Labor Statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm Department of Labor]</ref>

The 2009 recession gave a compelling picture of how an excessive minimum wage can exacerbate the employment climate.  None of the five states with the lowest unemployment rates in May 2009, all below 5.5%, had a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage of $6.55. Five of the six states with the highest unemployment rates, all above 11.2%, had minimum wages above the federal minimum wage. [[Oregon]], with a minimum wage of $8.40, had an unemployment rate of 12.4%. Generally, states with a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage had unemployment rates that were higher than states that did not have a higher minimum wage.<ref>[https://www.bls.gov/lau/ Bureau of Labor Statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm Department of Labor]</ref>

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