The problem is that it IS a purely economic problem. It's just math - supply, demand and competition. Small business in particular is captured by these forces. It cannot increase prices because people will go to the competition. And it has no margin to absorb people's desire to earn enough to live a middle-class life doing a job that you can hire anyone to do.

All of that said, what you could reasonably hope would happen is that all businesses raise their prices because of the labor shortage (already happening around me), but then you have another problem which is that the increased wages are offset by the increased prices.

At the current click, all that's going to be left are the corporations with enough wiggle room to absorb the increase, but they will also pass on prices. I would just prefer not to live in that world. I think corporations increase inequity (Walmart could pay a living wage and full health care, but doesn't) and small business puts the power back with the individual.