NBER: Fast Food Minimum Wage Study

The NBER conducts economic research and disseminates findings. This paper analyzes the effect of California's $20 fast food minimum wage on employment in the sector, revealing a 2.7% decline in jobs relative to other states.

The impact of California's fast food minimum wage on employment shows a "huge COVID transient" followed by a decline. Participants noted that the post-COVID recovery in the restaurant industry has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, particularly for full-service establishments.

Another recurring theme in the discussion was the balance between wage increases and employment levels. One user commented, "Some things often overlooked in minimum wage discussions," highlighting the complexity of market forces and the potential for minimum wage laws to make some workers unemployable.