[CCIP]

I think there still needs to be a reasonable minimum, though. Sure there is a big difference between zero and a very low wage, but let's consider the fact that if minimum wage is artificial and set by politics, then the poverty line and a bare survival minimum are set by the economy. If somewhere you have actual wage-earning, independent workers who put in the hours but can't meet that minimum, there's a problem - which is then naturally solved only by social welfare and tax relief programs, again a political move. Which at the end of the day I think are far less efficient ways to deal with the problem.

The author does make a few good points about minimum wage not being intended for workers feeding families, but you can't generalize that either.

I think the issue needs to be less about potential for abuse and mistreatment of workers, and more about the fact that if you can't ensure that all working people get more than a reasonable amount needed to survive, then your economy is well and truly broken.