Minimum Wage Fail - The Daily Signal

Minimum Wage Fail - The Daily Signal argues that minimum-wage requirements for app-based gig work have raised costs without increasing worker earnings, using Seattle as a case study. It says Seattle’s City Council imposed a $26 minimum wage for delivery drivers, and two years later gig workers reportedly saw no higher pay while consumers faced added charges. The article claims that apps such as DoorDash and Uber Eats added a $5 fee to cover the costs tied to those regulations, contributing to consumer complaints and a decline in orders, citing 1.7 million fewer Seattle orders. It contrasts this with earlier claims of improved outcomes and quotes a stated argument that politicians misread complex markets. The piece also cites a similar New York City attempt, where app drivers received an hourly minimum of about $20, but increased competition and lower tips allegedly offset gains. It concludes that competition, rather than mandated pricing, determines wages.