Opponents of a higher federal minimum wage argue that it will lead to more unemployment. But a new study by the Fiscal Policy Institute, a nonprofit research group, raises serious questions about this assertion. Comparing the 12 states that have voluntarily raised their minimum wage above the federal level of $5.15 set in 1997 against those who haven’t, researchers found that employment figures in the states with a higher minimum wage have been just as strong—or stronger. And those states with the higher minimum wages (including California and Vermont) also saw growth in the number of small businesses. [04/26/04]