"Relative to employment in the fast food sector elsewhere in the United States" .. could drive a truck through that "elsewhere". In 1992, New Jersey made just

"Relative to employment in the fast food sector elsewhere in the United States" .. could drive a truck through that "elsewhere". In 1992, New Jersey made just such an increase in minimum wage at fast food restaurants. Card & Kreuger ("Myth and Measurement") analyzed data in adjacent areas in NJ & PA. They found that employment in the NJ area actually increased. Take a look at the first chapter of "Economics in America" by Angus Deaton (Nobel 2015). Comparing CA to elsewhere in the US (where? everywhere?) looks a bit shady. Given the government agencies are being led by political hacks these days, I don't trust it one bit.