The U.S. minimum wage has just gone up by US70 cents (NZ$1) an hour and the usual claims from employers of higher unemployment are being heard. Dean Baker from the Center for Economic and Policy Research is having none of it:

"The impact of a rise in the minimum wage on employment is one of the most heavily researched topics in economics. Virtually all of this research shows that it will have little or no impact on employment."

.....more here and here.