Kai Filion, Economic Policy Institute, Issue Brief #255, May 28, 2009

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included policies to help struggling families and create jobs. But an extremely effective and simple policy that achieves both of these goals is often overlooked: increases in the minimum wage. Each increase provides financial relief directly to minimum wage workers and their families and helps to stimulate the economy. By increasing workers’ take-home pay, families gain both financial security and an increased ability to purchase goods and services, thus creating jobs for other Americans.

Download A Stealthy Stimulus: How boosting the minimum wage is helping support the economy