Sometimes common sense prevails. An initiative putting an $18 minimum wage on the November ballot failed to get enough signatures to qualify.

The current state-mandated minimum wage is $15 an hour, or $14 for companies with 25 or fewer employees. Due to an inflation adjustment, the numbers are scheduled to rise to $15.50 and $14.50 in January, respectively.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed the current minimum wage law, himself noted that “economically, minimum wages may not make sense.” He was content that they made sense “morally and socially and politically.” However, even if the latter is correct, that doesn’t mean the minimum wage itself cures the issues proponents of higher minimum wages hope for.

This is particularly true in a high-inflation environment, with tremendous economic uncertainty and in a state with persistently high levels of poverty and an already high cost of living.

The gradual increases in the minimum wage are sure to be appreciated by workers who benefit from them. But until you get a grip of the surging cost of living, it won’t really make the sort of difference proponents of increasing it hope for.

There are better ways than minimum wage laws to help spur employment and higher wages, especially during a time when the threat of recession looms.

First, get the cost of living under control. That means continuing to bring down regulations on the single biggest expense for most people, which is housing. While California is making progress on liberalizing...

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