That doesn’t mean raising the minimum wage had no negative consequences. Reich and his co-author, Denis Sosinsky, found that the higher minimum wage caused menu prices in California fast-food chains to rise by about 3.7 percent. That number is far lower than the “$20 Big Macs” that critics of the law warned of, but it’s still significant at a time when many consumers are deeply upset over the post-pandemic spike in food prices. Even so, Reich points out that this number pales in comparison with the 18 percent raise that the average fast-food worker received because of the new law. (The authors calculated that about 62 percent of the wage increase was absorbed through higher prices, while the rest was likely absorbed by a mix of reduced turnover and, crucially, lower profits for franchisees—hence the massive industry resistance.)
From a purely consumer perspective, fast food prices increased to the price territory of superior fast casual and independent restaurants while being significantly lower quality.
How did this happen without the other options increasing prices at the same rate? McDonalds lost their value proposition and eaters adjusted.
People didn’t stop ordering burgers, but they can get a great one over McD’s for maybe 20% more cost.
That’s a good thing, though. They make shit food, pay people shit, charge nothing and do it fast. This is not really a business we need around. The only thing that benefits from McDonald’s is people scratching their impatience.
I say let them learn to be a real restaurant that makes, you know, food, or fuck off. Keep cranking those wages up.