Keep in mind how many products are imported from third world countries that have poor labor standards & low wages. The current US lifestyle is heavily subsidized by this cheap labor. Additionally here in the US there is often abuse with illegal immigrants who make well below minimum wage & work in poor working conditions.
Much of the third world is the way it is due to a history of instability, violence & repression, not necessarily a lack of well to do business men looking for an opportunity to avoid having to deal with pesky ideals such as labor regulation.
While it's great that Chinese have the option now of working 12+ hour plus days 6 days a week instead of going off & dying in a rice patty field, somehow I doubt philanthropic philosophy is the reason business goes to China.
Great Britain.
Unlikely. Very few employees in the US make exactly the minimum wage, which is why it's true that minor increases have close to no effect.
There are massive lobbying efforts by big business every time the minimum wage issue comes up for debate
True, for example WalMart lobbies in favor of minimum wage increases. Out of concern for low-income workers, or to raise business costs for their competitors? Hmm...