Commentary by Leslie Walz, of Barre, who is a retired Vermont nurse.  Numerous studies have shown that raising the minimum wage doesn’t hurt job growth, and differences in minimum wages in neighbouring states doesn’t cause businesses to move significantly. As long as there are people to buy the goods, businesses will stay. With more money in their pockets, people will spend more. An increase in the minimum wage is associated with an increased level of productivity, according to many economists, including Janet Yellen, former chair of the Federal Reserve. Alan Manning, professor of economics at the London School of Economics, stated in 2014: “As the minimum wage rises and work becomes more attractive, labor turnover rates and absenteeism tend to decline.”

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