Thousands of years ago when the someone hooked a stick to a horse and replaced 5 guys with sticks, productivity has always been the driving force. The $15/hour forced wage just continues this story. When you can find a way to produce goods and services better and cheaper, then you do that.

Economics 101 indeed. Just where do they think the $15 per hour money is supposed to come from? The problem is that those who want the increase only know that money is some kind of printed paper that allows them to get stuff. They have no inkling of what it is, how they get it, and where it comes from.

I'm sure that is one of the reasons the Left has pushed this narrative. But they also do it because it destroys non-union jobs, not just in fast food but in bookstores and other small businesses, both franchise and independent.

I suspect a lot of the fast food places that close will be replaced by food trucks -- a fight that the Institute for Justice is winning. And those are run by owners, not employees.

I was thinking of writing "Economics 101" here before I clicked the link and saw it mentioned in the second line of the article.
I took the college course in the late 60s, but it does not even require a high school education to go figure that forcibly skyrocketing the minimum wage will force companies to cut back on jobs.

Oh I agree with you there. I'll take my wife's cooking over prepared food any day! Lasagna, chicken pot pie, enchiladas, roast... Yum!

My comment is a personal view, not a comment on the industry. I cook better than 90% of restaurant chefs and I don't have to be concerned about the health of the staff either. Restaurant cooking disagrees with me at least a third of the time, while eating at home that never happens, and I make pretty elaborate (and spicy) dishes. (Not that I am a CIA grad chef;^) I used to love to eat out. Now thanks to the distinctly high cost/low benefit it's more of a chore than a pleasure.

I actually work in the food service industry and we're still seeing growth outpacing inflation and population growth, so I'm not sure I come to the same conclusions there you do.

Eating out isn't as attractive as it once was.

It affects the entire food industry, however, not just fast food. And the basic problem is still the same: government interference in business.

Maybe it will become so expensive that people start eating healthier food.