This book attempts to make sense of the research on the minimum wage that began in the early 1990s the authors look at who is affected by the minimum wage both directly and indirectly which observable measurable variables eg wages employment school enrollment the minimum wage influences how long it takes for the variables to respond to the minimum wage and the size and desirability . Raising the federal minimum wage to 15 an hour is a policy goal for many lawmakers increasing the minimum wage is expected to lift individuals out of poverty and improve work ethic however it. Some argue that raising the minimum wage will pull working individuals and families out of poverty while reducing income inequality at an acceptable cost to society others contend that raising the minimum wage is a job killer that when the cost of labor increases demand for that labor decreases