This, and I think every one of your points, can
be sufficiently addressed with one word:
Australia.
Youth unemployment (both 15-19 and 15-24) is trending higher[0][1] but
the government doesn't seem to think that's a crisis[2] and it has
gotten worse since that statement[0][1].
My 19 year old unskilled housemate gets paid
minimum wage $21.08 per hour as a casual.[1] She
works 4 days a week and supports herself just
fine. They say the cost of living is high in
Australia, and it is -everything is expensive
here- but we have options: we live in a share
house and pay $100 a week per room (four of us)
including electricity and Internet. She doesn't
own a car, and doesn't smoke cigarettes or drink
alcohol. Financially she isn't struggling at all.
The minimum wage for full time employment is
$16.87 per hour, which includes 10 day a year
sick leave and 20 days a hear paid leave.[1]
Point 1, I said it increases the cost of living which you confirm.
I'm not sure a frugal person with 3 roommates making 25% above the minimum is a good example.
Also, because everyone here is paid a 'living
wage' we're able to afford to pay social welfare.
Since it looks like Australia is running a A$48.5 billion budget deficit[3],
it looks like you really cannot afford it. In fact, the range of changes look
like you are going to reduce social welfare to cover the budget. For students,
it seems the cost of university education (the main path in turning an unskilled
person to a skilled person) is going to have a jump[4]. This is looking
much worse for youth since the need to become skilled labor is going to hit a
bit of a wall if the university education costs jump per one of the governments
proposals.
'Newstart Allowance' is paid to unemployed
job-seekers at $515.60 per fortnight.[2] It isn't
a lot, below the poverty line apparently, but it
is enough to rent a room buy food.
I do not think any of your arguments hold water.
We have unemployeement payments in the US, so I'm not seeing its
relation to minimum wage. I am don't believe Australia proves
high minimum wage is a good thing.
The argument is high minimum wage cuts youth and unskilled employment and removes a class of worker from the workforce. Looking at [0][1], I think the trends show just that.
I'm not sure a frugal person with 3 roommates making 25% above the minimum is a good example.
Since it looks like Australia is running a A$48.5 billion budget deficit[3], it looks like you really cannot afford it. In fact, the range of changes look like you are going to reduce social welfare to cover the budget. For students, it seems the cost of university education (the main path in turning an unskilled person to a skilled person) is going to have a jump[4]. This is looking much worse for youth since the need to become skilled labor is going to hit a bit of a wall if the university education costs jump per one of the governments proposals. We have unemployeement payments in the US, so I'm not seeing its relation to minimum wage. I am don't believe Australia proves high minimum wage is a good thing.The argument is high minimum wage cuts youth and unskilled employment and removes a class of worker from the workforce. Looking at [0][1], I think the trends show just that.
0) http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/meisubs.nsf/0/333D19...
0b) small side note: I do wonder why the change to this reporting is occurring according to
1) http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departm...
2) http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/christ...
3) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-09/abbott-removes-poli...
4) http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/tertiary-education/...