Economic History & Policy - England's 1300s wage caps after the Black Death negatively impacted economic development [1] - The report serves as a warning against further minimum wage increases [1]

Midterm & 2028 Election Key Issues - The economy is expected to be a major determinant in the midterms, influencing safety, security, immigration, tariffs, and rates [2][9] - Interest rates are identified as a significant swing factor, with concerns about the Federal Reserve's data interpretation [2] - Real wages, housing, education, and healthcare are highlighted as key issues that are not being adequately addressed by some political figures [10][11][12] Political Candidacy & Strategies - Being ahead early in the Republican primary process is seen as a disadvantage [4] - The Democratic party faces a challenge in balancing socialist-leaning primary dynamics with the broader electorate's preferences [7] - A potential Democratic strategy involves focusing on stagnant real wages and issues like minimum wage, unaffordable education, and housing [10][11][12] - Emphasizing a candidate's record, particularly in states like California, is suggested as a way to attack performative politics [19][20] California's Economic & Social Landscape - California faces challenges including high taxes, poor public services, a significant budget deficit (turning a $75 billion surplus into a $20 billion deficit), high rates of poverty, homelessness, inequality, illiteracy, and wage stagnation [20][21][22] - Despite having the fourth largest economy in the world, California struggles with high housing and energy costs, as well as high rates of retail crime and frivolous lawsuits [21][22][23] - Businesses are reportedly leaving California due to these issues [24] State Comparisons & Democratic Candidate Evaluation - An AI-driven analysis ranks Maryland, Michigan, and California based on quality of life, cost of living, and crime, with Maryland ranked highest overall [26][27][28] - Democratic voters will need to consider the records of potential candidates from California, Maryland, and Michigan [28] - Based on the AI analysis, Wes Moore (Maryland) and Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan) are ranked higher than Gavin Newsom (California) based on facts [29]

Government Policy & Industry Impact - Chile's communist candidate plans gradual minimum wage increase [1] - Government aims to increase lithium production [1] Policy Shift - Candidate's program represents a step back from earlier, more radical proposals [1]

Economic Policy & Labor Market - A Japanese government panel recommended a record minimum wage increase for the second consecutive year [1] - The wage increase sends a positive signal to the Bank of Japan [1] - The policy aims to pursue demand-led economic growth in Japan [1]

From @WSJopinion: There’s no such thing as a free fast-food lunch. According to a new study, California has about 18,000 fewer fast-food jobs than if its $20 minimum-wage law had never passed. https://t.co/VHHZSq6hYd ...

Britain’s economy lost jobs again in June as the Labour government faces growing criticism for lifting the minimum wage and imposing a £26 billion payroll tax hike on companies https://t.co/7PGhS3z0Yb ...

Hotel owners are in open revolt against Los Angeles’s new $30-an-hour minimum wage, the latest blow to one of the country’s poorest-performing lodging markets https://t.co/POvh8bn5sD ...

Hundreds of thousands of US workers are actually getting a bump in pay today. Nearly two dozen states, cities, and local municipalities are raising their minimum wages effective July 1. That includes places like Alaska, which will increase minimum wage to $13 an hour, and California, which is hiking minimum wages to $24 an hour for many health care workers. ...

Hotel owners are in open revolt against Los Angeles’s new $30-an-hour minimum wage, the latest blow to one of the country’s poorest-performing lodging markets https://t.co/3cOkvh8txQ ...

Turkey’s government plans to skip a mid-year increase in the minimum wage, resisting political pressure to alleviate rising living costs https://t.co/atkFot5cQR ...