Ms. Real Estate Wouldn't it be convenient if someone had clear, intelligent answers to most of your CRE-related questions? Problem solved. Nina J. Gruen, a.k.a. Ms. Real Estate, a.k.a. the principal sociologist overseeing market research and analysis at Gruen Gruen + Associates, is here to answer readers' questions. Have a question for Ms. Real Estate? Ask anonymously by clicking here. I believe many real estate businesses, from store owners to developers, are concerned about the potential impacts of raising the minimum wage on both their bottom line as well as the overall US economy. I have read both pros and cons in the New York Times. Now that $15/hr is on a path to being realized in New York and California, what is your opinion on the long run impacts of requiring companies to raise the minimum wages of their employees?

—Till Minding a Minimum Squeeze

Dear Minimum Squeeze, Ms. Real Estate SAN FRANCISCO Wouldn't it be convenient if someone had clear, intelligent answers to most of your CRE-related questions? Problem solved. Nina J. Gruen, a.k.a. Ms. Real Estate, a.k.a. the principal sociologist overseeing market research and analysis at Gruen Gruen + Associates, is here to answer readers' questions. Have a question for Ms. Real Estate? Ask anonymously by clicking here. I believe many real estate businesses, from store owners to developers, are concerned about the potential impacts of raising the minimum wage on both their bottom line as well as the overall US economy. I have read both pros and cons in the New York Times. Now that $15/hr is on a path to being realized in New York and California, what is your opinion on the long run impacts of requiring companies to raise the minimum wages of their employees?

—Till Minding a Minimum Squeeze

Dear Minimum Squeeze, US Chicago Louisville Seattle Washington DC Oakland San Francisco San Jose US American Enterprise Institute Mark J. Perry Seattle Washington economist

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Nina J. Gruen

Nina J.Gruen has been the Principal Sociologist in charge of market research and analysis at Gruen Gruen + Associates (GG+A) since co-founding the firm in 1970. Ms. Gruen applies the analytical techniques of the social sciences to estimating the demand for real estate and to understanding the culture of the groups who determine the success of development, planning, and public policy decisions. She is a pioneer in synthesizing the results of behavioral research with quantitative time-series data to forecast market reactions. Market and community attitude evaluations and programming studies led by Nina Gruen have resulted in the development and redevelopment of many retail, office, industrial, visitor, and residential projects, varying in scale from a single building to large single- and mixed-use projects.

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