From the LA Times:
The new campaign to increase the minimum wage has drawn the familiar arguments against it out of the academic shadows and back into the public debate… To be fair, the debate over these findings is vigorous. David Neumark of UC Irvine is an often-cited authority for the idea that "minimum wages pose a trade-off of higher wages for some against job losses for others." There's even some evidence that a higher minimum wage may increase employment by putting more money in the pockets of low-wage earners, thus strengthening the economy, though the strength of the effect is hard to pin down. In any case, smart employers know that better wages cut absenteeism and worker turnover and raise productivity, all of which flow to the bottom line.

For the full story, please visit http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20130630,0,1818704.column.