A news story about efforts to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024 cites research done in 2018 by Arindrajit Dube, economics, that finds raising the minimum wage reduces the number of families living in poverty. The story also says research has shown that raising the minimum wage does not lead to major job losses, reduction in hours or a decrease in low-wage jobs. Another study co-authored by UMass Amherst economists says raising the minimum wage between 1979 and 2016 gave low-wage workers a pay increase but didn’t cause changes in employment. (Vox, 7/2/19)
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