[MosesKnows]

In the end wages are always should be determined by the market and are a function of supply and demand.

[billyboy15]

"In the end wages are always should be determined by the market and are a function of supply and demand." I get your point but will stand by mine. Here is why. Although the minimum wage can be set by other than market forces, in the end it is the market which will decide the success or failure of an arbitrary adjustment of wages. Here is an example. I used to own a retail business. My business allowed for X amount for salary expenses (after mine) Any increases in the amount allotted for salary can only come from either an increase in profit or a reduction in my salary (not happening). If I am forced to increase the salary of my entry level employees then that $ must come from the current employee allocation for salary. This means I can either lay off help or shorten hours. The likelihood is I will lay off all minimum wage employees I have and hire some more experienced or at least better educated than I had. By increasing the wages paid the pool of perspective employees will also increase. The end result is the very people who the minimum wage (entry level wage) is supposed to help will instead be shut out of the workplace by better qualified/educated job seekers. The markets will always determine the price of anything subject to the laws of supply/demand. Wages are included in this equation.