What should the federal minimum wage be?

[TexasBushwhacker]

170. I understand that

But you can't ignore the fact that increases in worker productivity and the minimum wage followed very closely up until 1973. Did I suggest an increase to $18.70 to incorporate ALL the increases in worker productivity? I did not. If increases in productivity are consistent throughout a particular industry, then have an industry specific productivity "factor" for the minimum wage. Some industries may have an average increase of 25%, some 75%, some 150%.

An increase to a $15 minimum wage, in stages, would incorporate a productivity increase of 40% over the inflation increase of $10.75. A $12 minmum wage would only incorporate a 12% productivity increase.

So the question is, how low do you go? Perhaps we should require no less than 38 hour schedules for full time hourly workers. Perhaps we should have that "casual worker" premium. Perhaps we should join the rest of the developed world an require paid vacation, sick leave and maternity leave, and of course healthcare for all.

FWIW, as a former teacher, I don't want to do anything that would encourage kids to drop out of high school. I would not have a problem with a lower wage for workers who are under 20 years of age.