No. The evidence for whether minimum wage laws produce unemployment is inconclusive. The recent studies showed no significant effect.
When I meant “supported through a wide range of lines of evidence” I was referring to the theory in its generality, not necessarily its application to the context at hand. So I meant that the theory of supply and demand on the whole is supported through several lines of evidence, not necessarily its application to the minimum wage issue (where the evidence alone does seem inconclusive). That was the point of the question.
Thanks for raising the issue, and sorry for the confusion I engendered.
So I meant that the theory of supply and demand on the whole is supported through several lines of evidence
The idea that supply and demand are a factor that can change some commercial interactions isn’t controversial. Human psychology on the other hand is quite complex. There is good evidence that most humans aren’t completely rational utility optimizers.
When I meant “supported through a wide range of lines of evidence” I was referring to the theory in its generality, not necessarily its application to the context at hand. So I meant that the theory of supply and demand on the whole is supported through several lines of evidence, not necessarily its application to the minimum wage issue (where the evidence alone does seem inconclusive). That was the point of the question.
Thanks for raising the issue, and sorry for the confusion I engendered.
The idea that supply and demand are a factor that can change some commercial interactions isn’t controversial. Human psychology on the other hand is quite complex. There is good evidence that most humans aren’t completely rational utility optimizers.