Natural experiment time?

Minimum wage hike likely in '07:

The minimum wage in North Carolina probably will go up $1 in January, to $6.15 an hour, and more than 100,000 workers will get a raise.

The increase would make North Carolina one of nearly two dozen states with a minimum wage higher than the federal floor of $5.15 an hour. Florida is the only other Southeastern state with a minimum wage higher than the federal standard now.

Comments

[the dancing carpenter]

My guess is it will help teenage workers and increase the price of a Big Mac.

[Justin Ross]

Another Natural Experiment in minimum wage: West Virginia passes a bill raising the state minimum wage to $7.25 for some businesses. Read the round up here: http://statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=9424
Since small businesses are exempt, perhaps it will have some room for some econometric testing.