Public Square

Video: Bill Gates on the Minimum Wage

LinkedIn Email Print

When Bill Gates appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday morning, he shocked many viewers with his comments about raising the minimum wage.

When asked whether raising the minimum wage was a good idea, Gates responded,

“Well, jobs are a great thing. So you have to be a bit careful: If you raise the minimum wage, you’re encouraging labor substitution, and you’re going to go buy machines and automate things — or cause jobs to appear outside of that jurisdiction. And so within certain limits, you know, it does cause job destruction. If you really start pushing it, then you’re just making a huge trade-off.”

Gates’s comments were particularly interesting in light of DC’s recent minimum wage increases, and his words highlight the the importance of considering the possible unintended consequences of any policy.

Share on Facebook Tweet

Leave your comments here.

Have our latest content delivered right to your inbox!

Further readings on Public Square

  • Public Square

In a world where the role of government is a subject of ongoing debate, it is crucial to seek understanding…

  • Public Square
Three Freedoms That Are Worth Defending

By: Kristin Brown

5 minute read

A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United…

Have our latest content delivered right to your inbox!