What if there was one simple policy change that could lower suicide rates, decrease the likelihood of criminal recidivism, increase consumer spending, boost worker productivity, and reduce the number of people facing poverty? And what if that policy also had widespread support and addressed the income equality issues that are at the very heart of nearly every American malady? WaPo on the benefits of paying people at reasonable levels. It’s not just paychecks: The surprising society-wide benefits of raising the minimum wage.