1. Sure that is largely the core of economics for those that sell their labor in exchange for receiving competency (e.g., wage-earners); and not only that, but the greater the demand is placed upon keeping occupations filled or even filling them in the first place the larger their pay increase and vice versa.
2. But it does, one cannot adequately make it out on their own with only $11,490 without also seeking additional aid or outside help, keeping in mind that taxes are excluded (e.g., slump rental fees eats up one-half of that figure alone).
3. Less than 2% of American workers earn at or below the minimum wage, while the average hourly wage in 2013 was slightly at between $13.50 and $16.60. And when accounting for inflation, we find that 40% of Americans are now making less than the average worker did back in 1968, earning $1.60, equaling $10.74 at present.
“In 2012, 24.4 percent of the working poor earned $9 per hour or less, 31.7 percent earned $10.10 per hour or less, and 43.5 percent earned $15 per hour or less.”
See more:
http://freebeacon.com/report-only-1-6-of-american-workers-make-the-minimum-wage/
4. A couple should be able to start a family whenever and however they damn well please to, it is the entirety of the government that should cease its practice of fleecing self-sustainability the populace, making it virtually impossible for most individuals to live virtuously.
5. I doubt that most unions really care what the minimum wage is set to; they negotiate their own pay in multitudes beyond whatever the minimum wage is set to and more their figures are largely based upon regional and/or national averaging in-line with inflation projections (including changes within the local worker pool), further supported by worker performance, etc. And come open-contract time unions will often negotiate for higher pay regardless if the minimum wage had increased since their last negotiations or not.