1) Costco already pays much more than the minimum wage, so they would not be affected directly from a cost perspective.
2) Competitors do not necessarily pay more than minimum wage, so this can only increase the costs of competitors.
3) Increasing minimum wage gives income to the lowest income people who will spend all of this money and are likely value shoppers of the kind attracted to big box stores like Costco.
There is nothing for Costco to lose here.
While I admire Costcos ethics all around, I can't say this is an entirely selfless gesture. Costco behaves rationally good with a long term view rather than irrationally bad with a short term view.
1) Costco already pays much more than the minimum wage, so they would not be affected directly from a cost perspective.
2) Competitors do not necessarily pay more than minimum wage, so this can only increase the costs of competitors.
3) Increasing minimum wage gives income to the lowest income people who will spend all of this money and are likely value shoppers of the kind attracted to big box stores like Costco.
There is nothing for Costco to lose here.
While I admire Costcos ethics all around, I can't say this is an entirely selfless gesture. Costco behaves rationally good with a long term view rather than irrationally bad with a short term view.