Revisiting the Legacy of the Fight for $15 (with Yannet Lathrop and Dr. T. William Lester)
Aug 27, 2024
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Yannet Lathrop, a vital advocate for the Fight for $15 movement, and Dr. T. William Lester, an expert in wage-related economic issues, delve into the transformative impact of the decade-long initiative. They discuss how the movement has raised wages for millions and narrowed the racial wealth gap, particularly benefiting communities of color. The duo challenges outdated economic myths, illustrating how higher minimum wages can foster job growth and enhance worker equity. Their insights emphasize the ongoing relevance of wage increases as a central issue in today’s economic discourse.
The Fight for $15 movement has successfully elevated wages for 26 million workers, significantly narrowing the racial wealth gap in the process.
Research indicates that raising the minimum wage boosts local economies and accelerates job growth, challenging traditional economic assumptions about wage increases.
Deep dives
The Impact of the $15 Minimum Wage Movement
The movement advocating for a $15 minimum wage has resulted in significant changes across the United States, with 86 jurisdictions adopting higher wages since 2012. This change has benefitted approximately 26 million workers, yielding a total of $150 billion in increased earnings. The $15 minimum wage has also contributed to a narrowing wealth gap, particularly for workers of color, as their share of the increased wages has been notably high. Union membership and labor movements have thrived as a result, demonstrating that higher minimum wages can coexist with union interests rather than undermine them.
Challenging Economic Orthodoxy
The prevailing economic wisdom has claimed that raising minimum wages would lead to job losses; however, studies have shown that in states where minimum wage increases occurred, job growth actually accelerated. Research demonstrates that when workers earn more, local economies benefit from increased consumer spending, ultimately leading to more job creation. Additionally, the concept of market competition is evolving, with emerging theories suggesting that employers hold significant wage-setting power, complicating previous models of a purely competitive labor market. This shift calls into question long-held assumptions in economic textbooks, highlighting a disconnect between theory and practical outcomes.
Equity and Wealth Growth Among Workers
Analysis of the period between 2013 and 2019 indicates that worker wealth in states that raised minimum wages grew significantly faster than in those that did not. Black and Latinx workers in states pursuing higher wages experienced wealth increases of 186% and 233%, respectively, compared to their counterparts in states with stagnant wage policies. This broader economic growth signifies an important narrowing of the racial wealth gap, demonstrating that policy initiatives aimed at increasing minimum wages can have profound equity impacts. The data suggests that raising the minimum wage is beneficial across all demographics, not just for the lowest earners.
Broader Economic Benefits and Future Directions
The economic impacts of raising the minimum wage extend beyond individual worker benefits, promoting overall economic activity. An estimated additional $87.6 billion in annual economic output is generated from the increased spending by low-wage workers, reinforcing the multipliers of local spending within communities. Furthermore, states that implemented minimum wage hikes have seen an increase in union membership and wage growth amongst existing union members compared to regions that did not. As discussions evolve, there are calls to raise the minimum wage beyond $15 to address current economic realities and living costs, with suggestions that a figure closer to $20 may be more appropriate now.
Over ten years ago, activists and civic leaders ignited the Fight for $15, a movement that was once seen as radical—even Forbes labeled Nick's support for a $15 minimum wage as “near-insane.” Today, the movement's achievements are undeniable: Higher wages for millions of workers, increased union membership, reducing the racial wealth gap, and now raising the federal minimum wage to $15/ hr is one of the central issues in the 2024 presidential campaign, with two-thirds of voters in support. We thought it would be a good time to revisit this episode from 2023, where Yannet Lathrop and Dr. T. William Lester discuss their report from the National Economic Law Project examining the legacy of the movement and all it has accomplished over the last decade.
Yannet Lathrop is a Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst for the National Employment Law Project.
Dr. T. William Lester is Professor and Acting Chair of Urban and Regional Planning at San José State University and Research Professor at UNC Chapel Hill.