Introduktion
Currently, the hourly minimum wage stands at $7.25. Remarkably, the last adjustment occurred on July 24, 2009, marking the longest span without a raise in the minimum wage—11 years and counting.

Over this period, the minimum wage has dwindled by over 30%, attributing the decline to inflation since 1968. This leaves individuals in the US earning historically low wages, a predicament exacerbated by the ongoing inflationary trends.

The conundrum lies in the potential adverse effects of raising wages, especially for smaller businesses. The concern is that such a move might lead to detrimental consequences, ultimately impacting the ordinary resident negatively.

The question arises: does the proposition hold true, and would an increase in the minimum wage unfavorably affect the United States?

Utdrag
Consequently, American workers find themselves earning less in real terms compared to their counterparts in 2009.

While the argument that gainful employment doesn't guarantee freedom from poverty holds weight, a noteworthy counterpoint emerges:

"Around 70% of people on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food stamps, and Medicaid work full-time."

This revelation, extracted from "starvation wages," elucidates that the predicament isn't exclusive to those employed by small businesses but extends to corporate giants like Walmart and McDonald's.

Even entities with significant economic prowess could ostensibly alleviate the need for their workers to rely on programs like "SNAP" by offering higher wages.

Opposing the proposition of increasing the minimum wage are concerns over potential job losses, a notion vividly discussed in the video "Two experts debate the potential consequences of raising the minimum wage."

Genevieve Wood highlights an analysis from 2016, indicating that a doubling of the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 could lead to the elimination of seven million low-wage jobs.

Consequently, a federal-level increase in the minimum wage is argued to carry the risk of fostering both poverty and unemployment.

Another argument against wage hikes revolves around the strain it places on small businesses, a viewpoint elucidated in "$15 Minimum Wage:

How Have SMBs Been Affected?" This source indicates that the challenges of meeting higher wages might force small businesses to either shutter or implement cost-cutting measures.