January 2, 2014

Boosting the Minimum Wage: The Economic Stimulus That Isn’t

The labor union-backed Economic Policy Institute recently released an update of their earlier “analysis” on a $10.10 minimum wage. EcPI’s analysts have scaled their earlier claim of $32 billion in stimulus back by a cool $10 billion or so, but — in their view — a nearly 40 percent…
December 13, 2013

President Obama’s “Famous” Words on the Minimum Wage

In a recent speech on income inequality, President Obama claimed “there’s no solid evidence that a higher minimum wage costs jobs.” However, the president’s statement is plainly contradicted by the evidence. Even the Washington Post – itself no opponent of a higher minimum wage – gave his statement “Two Pinocchios” for…
December 5, 2013

The Cost of $15: Nearly A Half-Million Jobs

On Thursday, labor union-backed protesters will “strike” at over 100 fast food restaurants around the country–the third such coordinated national action this year. The Employment Policies Institute has taken out a series of full page ads in USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, warning that a $15 minimum wage would force employers…
November 11, 2013

The Facts on a $10.10 Minimum Wage

Eager to change the conversation from the disastrous roll-out of the healthcare law, Senate Democrats and President Obama have rallied behind a proposal to create a $10.10 minimum wage—a nearly 40 percent increase over the current $7.25. (The proposal would also raise the minimum wage for tipped employees by over…
News October 18, 2013

New Study: NJ $1 Wage Hike Would Cost State and Local Governments $21.6 Million

This week, the Employment Policies Institute released a new study authored by Miami University economist Dr. William Even and Trinity University economist Dr. David Macpherson that examines the cost to the New Jersey public sector if the state raises its minimum wage by $1. The economists predict that New…
News October 16, 2013

SEIU-Backed Advocacy Group Cooks the Books in New “Study”

This week, the SEIU-backed National Employment Law Project (NELP) released a new report arguing that the ten largest fast-food companies cost taxpayers $3.8 billion per year. Though NELP’s number was widely reported, few people bothered to check the fine print. Buried in a footnote in the back of the report,…
News October 8, 2013

Most Minimum Wage Earners Don’t Work for Large Corporations

In recent weeks, so-called “worker centers” have caught the public’s eye with widespread walkouts at national restaurant chains. These groups – which are union-founded and funded – have demanded a minimum wage of at least $15, arguing that large corporations with highly-paid CEOs can afford to…
News October 7, 2013

EPI Ads Warn Congress of Unintended Consequences of Minimum Wage Hikes

It’s become fashionable to lament “Congressional inaction” in Washington, DC. But as demonstrated by a minimum wage-focused ad campaign this month in the DC Metro’s “Capitol South” station, there are times that the economy is better off when Congress fails to act. The first two ads point to Congressional leaders…
News September 4, 2013

HuffPo gets it wrong – again – on the minimum wage

On Monday, July 29th, the internet was buzzing over a Huffington Post story about a new report from a “University of Kansas researcher” that claimed McDonald’s could double its employees’ wages and only raise the price of a Big Mac by 68 cents. Two days later — when it was…
News August 29, 2013

WSJ Ad: Robots Will Replace Striking Fast Food Workers—Even in the Kitchen

Today, the Employment Policies Institute is running a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal  illustrating the consequences of a $15 minimum wage. It coincides with union-organized fast food strikes that are expected to take place today in at least 35 major cities. There’s an old saying – “be…