Research and debate about the minimum wage is typically centered on economic outcomes and the impact on poverty. Studies reveal the obvious pros of higher minimum wages but what about the cons? For more, we’re joined by David Neumark [Distinguished] Professor of economics at the University of California, Irvine and expert on effects of minimum wages on employment, wages, earnings and incomes. “More income doesn’t always make you healthier. Obviously, it should enable you to buy more health care, you should have more doctors’ visits. But it also can increase spending on things that aren’t as good for you: smoking, drinking, less healthy foods. So, a priori, there’s actually not a reason to be sure there should be benefits or costs and the evidence kind of bears out that mixed prediction,” says Neumark.

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