well, that's not entirely why businesses won't pay a "livable wage". They pay you based on what you bring to the company, how hard it'd be to replace you, and what they think is fair based on your job function while still being able to profit off the work you do for them. People don't just wake up one day, decide to go through all the red tape just to start a business by saying "I want to start a business just to employ people". Employees are a necessary evil. It's none of your employer's business if you can live the way you want off the pay they give you. If you can't make ends meet, it's YOUR responsibility to quit the job and get a better one, or find a way to make it work. Lower your standard of living or find a second job. Your employer isn't responsible for making sure you can live off the money they pay. Competition in the job market is what drives wages up. If his competitor pays better, people will go there to work and he will have to find a way to raise wages to compete. A government mandate NEVER works.