5 ms·

Hi, Australian here. Our nominal prices (in AUD) are about the same as in the US (in USD) and our minimum wage is $17.29 an hour (+ 25% for casual employees). P

Hi, Australian here. Our nominal prices (in AUD) are about the same as in the US (in USD) and our minimum wage is $17.29 an hour (+ 25% for casual employees). People who make minimum wage here aren't struggling to survive like they are in the US; the minimum wage is actually liveable. Prices don't just rise when the minimum wage does. Firstly, people who make minimum wage make up a small proportion of overall income (something something 1% something something). Secondly, prices vary mostly because of the price of inputs and the demand for the product, not the overall wage level; if anything, prices of locally produced, labour-intense goods will rise a little because labour is now more expensive (not because some customers have a little more money). I understand that your brother might not like the social stigma of making minimum wage again, but make not mistake; he will have more purchasing power than before. YOu didn't bring it up, but the strongest criticism to make about a higher minimum wage is that it will leave some people with better paying jobs and some people with no jobs.

vlasev 11y ago
1%? Really?
mangeletti 11y ago
> he will have more purchasing power than before. Pray tell, how does this magic work? My little brother can save his paycheck for 1 month right now and afford to pay a minimum wage employee (much like he was a few years ago) for 1 month while also living. This would allow him to start a business. If minimum wage was raised to $15, he would never be able to save enough to pay this employee with his savings. Ever.
T2_t2 11y ago
Except... The prices are higher. In NYC, I can get a breakfast for $5, and I got a FRESH BLT at 3am at a deli in Brooklyn... for $3.50. There ain't no WAY I can buy either of those thongs in Sydney, Brisvegas or Radelaide. Besides, Australia is basically the same demographics coast to coast, where the vast majority of people live in just a few cities, and the popluation is really small. Try to make broad gerneralisations that link San Francisco (7 million people, $63,024 household income), Miami (3,876,380/$38,632) and Los Angeles–Riverside–Orange County, California CMSA (16,373,645/21,170). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-income_metropolitan_statistical_areas_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-income_metropolitan_st... Compare that to the Aussie states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_states_and_territories_by_gross_state_product https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_states_and_... Australian minimum wages are high for a variety of (historically anomalous?) reasons, that aren't always applicable to countries with much more varied demographic splits.

vlasev 11y ago

1%? Really?

mangeletti 11y ago

> he will have more purchasing power than before. Pray tell, how does this magic work? My little brother can save his paycheck for 1 month right now and afford to pay a minimum wage employee (much like he was a few years ago) for 1 month while also living. This would allow him to start a business. If minimum wage was raised to $15, he would never be able to save enough to pay this employee with his savings. Ever.

T2_t2 11y ago

Except... The prices are higher. In NYC, I can get a breakfast for $5, and I got a FRESH BLT at 3am at a deli in Brooklyn... for $3.50. There ain't no WAY I can buy either of those thongs in Sydney, Brisvegas or Radelaide. Besides, Australia is basically the same demographics coast to coast, where the vast majority of people live in just a few cities, and the popluation is really small. Try to make broad gerneralisations that link San Francisco (7 million people, $63,024 household income), Miami (3,876,380/$38,632) and Los Angeles–Riverside–Orange County, California CMSA (16,373,645/21,170). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-income_metropolitan_statistical_areas_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-income_metropolitan_st... Compare that to the Aussie states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_states_and_territories_by_gross_state_product https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_states_and_... Australian minimum wages are high for a variety of (historically anomalous?) reasons, that aren't always applicable to countries with much more varied demographic splits.