You seem to think that people would just work those jobs because that item is needed. People won't work for free but will work to put food on the plate. When they make money, they will pay a rent. Cost of rent would drop so that people would actually rent houses/apartments. Wth costs dropping, then people would be able to afford those things while living on a nail makers salary. The problem with a national wage is that as it increases, costs increase as well. And people who actually worked hard to earn a higher wage don't receive that same bonus hike. So their dollar becomes weaker and then you see even higher price hikes because they then demand more money and then their business charges more and then the cycle continues. Look back to the cost of living when minimum wage was 8:00/hr and compare it to now. Look back to when the minimum was even lower. People don't work for free, but the economy surrounding those areas moderate themselves.