oversimplification. you are implying that employees are the complete source of expenses in running a business. this is, of course, not true. put most simply, i

oversimplification. you are implying that employees are the complete source of expenses in running a business. this is, of course, not true. put most simply, if your hypothetical McDonalds (at the numbers before you introduced the arbitrary variation, for which BTW an application of the Zipf law would probably be more appropriate) fired one employee, they would not suddenly have $12256 more in revenue. they would be wise to determine the exact costs of keeping an employee when making these decisions. --- another important argument which is often overlooked - the extra money that people at lower incomes will receive through this will almost entirely and certainly be spent back in the economy where they live! i have a strong hunch that under certain circumstances, although they might, when thoroughly estimated, turn out to be extreme, hiking up minimum wage might produce increased employment in the mid-term.