Ireland ranked number one, Australia number 6, USA number 14 down from number 7 in 2001 ?.

I see what you're saying. Do you think its possible that the low wages in the US are the result of market interference by corporations and business that effectively act as governments by using their control of the labour market over the individual employee as a way of increasing their profits. That is still a type of market distortion. Workers can't always go to a new job thats why we have unemployment.

Less than optimum wage, harm to overall economy.

I could open a show for steak flavoured cofee, but no one would buy my product and I would go broke. Demand fuels supply.