The next graph plots the nominal minimum wage in Wisconsin and in three neighboring states: Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. Wisconsin’s minimum wage was last raised in 2010, to $7.25 per hour and equal to the federal minimum. Although the difference is not as great as between Wisconsin and Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan are still considerably above the federal minimum wage. There then ensued a series of studies assessing the employment effect of increasing the minimum wage. While the correlation between political parties and minimum wage is not perfect, it is certainly there, as confirmed by the map.