>How is this a "different question"? Because most businesses make profits so it's perfectly possible to raise input prices without them closing. >We can argue

>How is this a "different question"? Because most businesses make profits so it's perfectly possible to raise input prices without them closing. >We can argue about how many of those businesses there are That's what we were doing. The answer was "not a statistically significant amount". >If you've ever run a small business yourself, you'll understand how small changes in the cost of labour can be painful. I understand all too well the kind of caterwauling that happens when you do something that could threaten the profits of any business. >Again, we have social programs in my country to alleviate these issues. And a historically high % of profit to GDP, so maybe we can give some of those programs a break and take the money from a sector of the economy that is actually flush with cash. >So businesses optimize for the number of people employed, regardless of prevailing wages? Absolutely they do, yes!