Why Wal-Mart’s recent pay increase is good news for the economy–especially if it’s not a result of the tax bill

Why Wal-Mart’s recent pay increase is good news for the economy–especially if it’s not a result of the tax bill

Ever since the January 11 announcement from Wal-Mart (WMT) that it would increase the starting wage rate for hourly workers to $11 (and provide a one-time cash bonus of up to $1,000 plus expanded maternity and parental leave b benefits,) pundits have seized on the news to say either “See, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill is already working,” or “This is all about competition for workers in a tight jobs market and has nothing to do with recent tax cuts.”