Minimum wage $15/hour

If Fast Food places started to pay workers $15/hr

Prices would go up and quality of the food will go down, It won't be one or the other it would be BOTH.

The number of jobs available will be reduced. This would be done by reducing the number of stores in an area. The store or stores that remain will have more workers to try to handle a higher flow of traffic. They would only keep the best workers. Those who are hired in the future, would need better qualifications than they do now. The high school drop out with no work experience will very likely not get hired. Working at a Taco Bell would only be a dream.

If Minimum wage is increased to $15/hr

This would be raised over a period of years.

A lot more people would be working at minimum wage. A person paid above minimum wage but below $15/hr would slowly find themselves back working at minimum wage. A person making 1.5 times minimum wage, would then make someplace between minimum wage and 1.5 times. Prices will increase.

Changes in Taxes may not occur. If no increase in standard deduction, or a lowering of tax rates occurs, the person who was making minimum wage will pay a higher effective tax rate.

Union wages would go up. In most contracts the union wage is based on minimum wage e.g. 3.2 times minimum wage. As long as prices do not increase too much you will be making more money.

It comes down to this.

 It is not how much money per hour you are making, but how many hours must you work to pay for things.

How many hours will you need to work to pay your Taxes?

How many hours will you need to work to pay for a gallon of milk?

How many hours will you need to work to pay for a pound of hamburger?

How many hours will you need to work to pay for a package of hamburger helper?

How many hours will you need to work to pay for Rent?

How many hours will you need to work to pay for a gallon of gas?

How many hours will you need to work to pay just to see a movie in the theater?

How many hours will you need to work to pay for your electricity?

How many hours will you need to work to pay your cable bill?

IF you work more hours to get these things, then you are getting paid less. The check may look bigger but you are getting paid less.