What's The Deal With The Minimum Wage?

TASK:

You are tasked with the responsibility of writing a brief "note" on trends in the minimum wages.  Overall, you are expected to describe what's going on with the minimum wage in the United States: Has it increased? Has it increased during some time periods but decreased in others? What's the demographic profile of persons earning the minimum wage in the United States? What explains the difference between trends in the nominal and real value of the minimum wage? Your "note" must include a graph that displays and compares trends in the nominal and real value of the minimum wage. Your "note" need not be longer than 2 pages but should certainly be no shorter than one page.