McDonalds is gonna move to Mexico if you raise the minimum wage?

ROFLMAO

We hear the same argument here all the time, that if we raise the wages the business will move abroad. Guess what, our minimum wages are like 3 times yours and go up every year.

I think at some point your government needs to commission some acadmeics (shock!) to do a large piece of in-depth research into the real cost of poverty-related crime.

I suspect when you add it all up over the next decade or two you'll find it far cheaper for the government to invest money now, even if part of that means subsidising industry to take on low paid workers. They've been subsidising the farmers for years, so why not?

Of course, asking a government to plan ahead for the next generation is pretty optimistic. Look what a mess they've made of pensions and the environment.

As for the cost of goods/services America is far cheaper, but then wages are lower there too.

Anyway, the relative cost of living in European countries vs America doesn't prove anything - you can't relate it directly to the minimum wage as you seem to be trying, Snowman, as there are so many other factors to consider...not least of which is America's vast area and natural resources.

Yah monk, I was talking about britain, germany, france, sweden, etc.

I have a friend who lives in sweden and the prices (in US $) for things seem to be about double here, so 3x the minimum wage isn't a HUUUUGE difference. Though Northview is right that that is all I figured in.