That is exactly the answer. The economy is based on ripping off people.

Not only that. Since in countries most jobs are included in collective bargaining, the minimums, by sector are always higher.

I had a restaurant in Spain, and I had to pay almost triple minimum.

Cause different parts of the country also set their own minimum wage, some states have $15/hr. Some cities have $18/hr or more.

High cost of living areas and low cost of living areas don't really need the same wage floor.

Yes, the national minimum wage is far too low, but individual states and cities also have the ability to raise it locally, and many already do.

Poland is an EU country, it's not poor at all by world standards.

And size of the economy doesn't have much to do with social policies.