[TheBlueMarvel]

Empirical research is the most reliable source for unvarnished information. Books that offer no case study often function as long op-eds and represent far more opinion than fact. If you can't access research, or the material is too dense for the average layperson, then scholarly texts that offer discussion and citation of empirical studies are generally where you want to go if you intend to have an erudite discussion about these matters.

Review the research, it makes a liar of the notion that raising the minimum wage will result in a sustained increase in the cost for goods and services - there has been a notation of a temporary spike with sudden and large wage increases, but the costs usually revert, in time. With a phased/gradual increase in wages, there isn't even a temporary spike.

It isn't exactly a mystery as to why companies that seek to export jobs abroad, taking advantage of slave-wages (always found that term to be disingenuous - slaves don't make wages to my knowledge - just sayin'), might want to convince the citizenry here that raising the living wage would bankrupt them...what is perplexing is why the average schmoe would be inclined to side against their own interests and align with organizations that would love to pay them sweatshop rates.