Source: EconLog
by Walter Block
“I know of a young man who is mentally handicapped. He aspires for a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant, or stocking shelves in a supermarket, or pushing a broom around pretty much anywhere. He is big and strong, and can easily do any of these types of work, but he is slow. He has quirks. He tries to follow the orders of his bosses when he is employed, but cannot do that well enough not to be fired. He is located on the very edges of the labor market. … This young man is capable enough to know that insofar as employment is concerned, he is a failure. He is easily bored when jobless. He leads a very unsatisfying life. Why? This suffering is due to a great degree to an evil, vicious and pernicious bit of legislation, the minimum wage law.” (07/14/25)