Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour is one of President Biden's priorities with the newest COVID-19 relief package. But Republicans say it will hurt small businesses too much and some swing voting Democrats are hesitant too. The history of the minimum wage in the U.S. is tied closely to civil rights. Ellora Derenoncourt, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, says one theme of the 1963 March on Washington was a call for a higher minimum wage. Many states have a higher minimum wage than the federally mandated $7.25. Arindrajit Dube from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst discusses how those states have fared. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other episodes from Consider This from NPR
Transcribed and ready to explore now
We may be in an AI bubble. What does that mean?
16 Oct 2025
Consider This from NPR
Drowning in tariffs, American businesses try to stay afloat
10 Apr 2025
Consider This from NPR
Tariffs will boost prices a lot ā here's how much
09 Apr 2025
Consider This from NPR
What will it take to get measles under control?
08 Apr 2025
Consider This from NPR
They want America to have more babies. Is this their moment?
07 Apr 2025
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
06 Apr 2025
Consider This from NPR