The report "The Public Cost of Low Wages in New York" by Ken Jacobs, Ian Perry, and Jenifer MacGillvary examines the impact of low wages on New York's fast-food workers and the cost of public assistance programs for low-wage workers. The report finds that between 2011 and 2013, over half of workers earning less than $15 per hour in New York were enrolled in one or more public assistance programs, with a total annual cost of $9.1 billion. The report emphasizes the need for a $15 minimum wage for all industries in New York to reduce the reliance on public assistance programs and the associated costs.
