Show Notes // Episode 08: The 2 Sides of the Fight for $15

Episode 8 of the We the Voters podcast asks and answers big questions about the federal minimum wage in the United States. I walk through the history of labor rights in the country before asking big questions about the future of the ongoing minimum wage debate.

Then, I look at the issue from two sides: (A) the federal minimum wage should be raised to 15 dollars an hour because it benefits workers and the economy and (B) the federal minimum wage should not be raised because it will harm small businesses and workers long-term. 

You can listen to the full show right here — or follow the links to wherever you listen to podcasts: 

Listen in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, and TuneIn.

Articles and Research Referenced in this Episode

Here is a timeline of US labor history. 

Here is a secondary timeline of US labor history. 

Here is the Department of Labor timeline of labor rights. 

Here is an overview of US labor laws. 

Here is an overview of EEOC employee rights.

Here is an overview of the history of the Fight for $15. 

Here is more information about the civilian labor force.

Here are some statistics and facts about the civilian labor force. 

Here is some information about the history of Labor Day. 

Here is more information about labor rights in the 19th century. 

Here is some information about the history of unions in the US. 

Here is the Pew Research Center data about American workers. 

Here is some information about the effects of a $15 minimum wage in LA. 

Here is some data about poverty rates in the US.  

Here is the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) brief about the $15 minimum wage.

Here is the NPR article about the $15 minimum wage. 

Here is the MIT Living Wage Calculator for the smallest metro area in the US. 

Here is more information about the living wage.

Here is the EPI brief about benefits of a $15 minimum wage.

Here is the Business Insider article about raising the minimum wage.

Here is the Center for American Progress brief about the $15 minimum wage. 

Here is the Center for American Progress brief about economic recovery. 

Here is the Bureau for Labor Statistics report about the minimum wage and the US labor force. 

Here is the Hill op-ed about the $15 minimum wage.

Here is the Forbes op-ed about the $15 minimum wage. 

Here is the Cato Institute report about the $15 minimum wage.  

Here is the Gallup poll about small business owners. 

Here is the CNBC article about the $15 minimum wage. 

Here is the Business Insider article about the 2016 campaign promises and the minimum wage. 

Here is the Heritage Foundation report about the $15 minimum wage.

Here is more information about raising the minimum wage. 

Here is the AP News article about consequences of raising the minimum wage.

Here is the Heritage Foundation report about rising consumer prices.

Here is the Reason article about rising wages in New York City.

Here is the EPI report about raising the federal minimum wage.

Here is the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland report about the minimum wage.

Here is the Mises brief about consequences of raising the minimum wage.

Here is the San Francisco Economic Impact Report from 2014. 

Here is the 2014 survey about layoffs and the minimum wage.

Here is the Cato Institute brief about minimum wage laws.

Here is the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago report about household spending. 

Here is the 1994 study about minimum wage and employment in PA and NJ. 

Here is the 2009 publication review about minimum wage research. 

Here is the study about family income distribution and the minimum wage.

Here is the Department of Labor history of federal minimum wage rates. 

Here is the US Census Bureau data about poverty thresholds.

Here is the Center for American Progress brief about minimum wage and SNAP benefits.

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Music for this week’s episode was provided by Jason Shaw via audionautix.com.