Top Ten Reasons to Raise the Minimum Wage

Economists have stated that if the minimum wage was raised to $10.10 an hour, there would be seven to nine percent less people on food stamps. Currently, lots of workers who warn minimum wage use food stamps in order to help make ends meet. If the minimum wage was raised, there would be no need to use food stamps.

Right now, many people who are on welfare can work, but they choose not to. Why is this? It's because they can receive more in welfare benefits than they would if they worked for $7.25 an hour. An economist stated that the average amount of welfare benefits collected on Mississippi equaled around 17k, while the average amount in Hawaii is 49k, thanks to higher prices. The federal minimum wage currently equals around 15k. Why on Earth would someone work if they could make more if they just stayed home. If we raised the minimum wage to equal more than the average welfare payout, then more people who are on welfare will want to work, since they will be able to earn more.

Since the minimum wage was increased in 2009, the price of common food items has increased by an average of 32%. The minimum wage has stayed the same. Actually, it's decreased, thanks to inflation. If food prices continues to rise, and the minimum wage continues to fall, disaster will strike the poor and lower-middle class. In the 1960s, the minimum wage was around half of the average wage. This means that if the minimum wage was adjusted for inflation, it would be around $12.50 an hour today.

One study shows that if the minimum wage was raised to just $9 an hour, consumer spending would increase by almost $50 billion a year, which would be a huge stimulus to our sluggish economy.

Worker productivity increases every year, but low-skilled workers are getting paid less and less every year. In a healthy capitalist economy, the more productive you are, the more you should get paid. Sadly, that's not the case. If the minimum wage was tied to productivity, it would be around $22 an hour today.

Several studies have stated that whenever the minimum wage is increased, people making around 150% of the minimum wage also see a small pay raise, because of the ripple effect that raising the minimum wage would have on the economy.

A 2014 survey found that more than half of small businesses would support raising the minimum wage, because it would make employees more productive and happy with their job, which would reduce employee turnover.

A study has shown that if the minimum wage was increased to $12 an hour by 2020, crime would decrease from 3% to 5%.

With less spending being needed for welfare, the government can reduce our already bloated budget deficit.