...A huge controversy in the economics world in 2012 has been a possible raise of the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00. Many supporters of this increase believe that a $9.00 minimum wage would enable many adults to make enough money to live off for a year. This wage increase would give low-income families a chance to make more money to support themselves and their families. Following this, supporters say these so called “low-income” families would spend more, thus resulting in an increased flow of money in the economy. However, what these supporters do not see is, many of these families will go to large department stores or super stores to make their purchases. With these large stores getting all the money many small businesses will be forced to close their doors. In addition to small businesses losing these customers, employers will be faced with another tough decision. In many small businesses employees are paid based on their skill, position, or time of employment. Many of these workers are paid the minimum wage because employers of a small business are unable to pay them any higher in order to keep their store or shop open. So what happens? Employees that currently being paid $7.25 will now be paid $9.00 and those higher level employees being paid $9.00 would be also given an approximant pay raise to $11.00 per hour. Now, how does this hurt small business owners? Here is a possible scenario. Max is the owner of a small sports shop in Waverly that has been open for ten years...
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...arguments for and against raising the minimum wage are almost unavoidable in the labor market, with each side having individually strong points. Advocates say that anyone who works 40 hours a week or more deserves to earn a decent living wage and get out of poverty, while opponents argue that high wages cost jobs. Most of the arguments for increasing the minimum wage are more emotional pleas and theories with very little evidence for achieving the desired outcome. The truth is that raising the minimum wage does not lead people to get out of poverty, but what it does is make it more difficult for younger workers to find entry-level jobs to build their skills. By raising the minimum wage, experts argue that it will make it more difficult for younger workers entering the workforce to get a job. Employers will be hiring workers with more experience and skills, since they can attract these workers with higher wages. Therefore, raising the minimum wage may be causing more harm to a younger workforce looking to find their first job to gain relevant work experience. Our country needs to focus on the inconvenient truths about the real impact around raising the minimum wage. Some of these inconvenient truths are highlighted by the research that clearly shows how raising the minimum wage may cause more harm than good, and have significant consequences to the younger and entry-level workers vs. the emotional theories that state increasing the minimum wage will get more people out of poverty...
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...the minimum wage, the time is now,” said Delegate Derek E. Davis, of Price George’s County. The increase in minimum wages has been a topic that has been on the rise with much controversy involved. President Obama wants state and lawmakers to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour by 2018. Connecticut was the first state to pass the law, which will increase their minimum wage to $10.10 by January 1, 2017. Maryland is a year and half behind them, making the minimum wage $10.10 by July 1, 2018. The reason for Maryland’s delay is because they want to give businesses more time to adjust to the new and increasing price. The increases will be in steps. The first increase will be from now until July 2018, and will increase to $8 per hour on January 1, 2015. The second increase will be to $8.75 per hour in July 2016. The third increase will be to $9.25 in July 2017, and then the final increase to $10.10 in 2018. The graph below, from the congressional budget office website, shows the increases of wages over the time period. President Obama commended Martin O’Malley and other lawmakers for “leading by example” in hopes that congress will follow. However, some counties have been setting their minimum wages even higher than $10.10. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have approved their minimum wage increase to $11.50 by 2017. However, businesses are going to be allowed to pay a lower training wage to workers under 20 years old. However, this increase in wages has...
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...Minimum Wage: A Historical Perspective and its’ Future On June 18th, 2004, Senator Kerry announced his minimum wage plan, saying, “I’m running for President to build a stronger economy that lifts up families and expands opportunity for hardworking Americans. Today, there are workers, many of them women, struggling to get by on the minimum wage. That is wrong. We can do better. And together, we are going to change it. I want to build an America where working families can get ahead, where a family working fulltime does not have to raise their children in poverty.” (Burkhauser 1) Classical economists have proven for years that floors and ceilings on prices are bad for economies. So why do politicians, who call themselves progressive, continue to beat the drum of creating a living wage? The reason; to get more votes. A wage floor is strictly a political issue disguised as a social problem needed to help the poor. Raising the minimum wage has taken on a fever pitch in Congress this year, regardless of the fact that there is not a widely accepted empirical economic study suggesting it is the correct policy to assist the working poor. This paper consists of research conducted by the author from both the government activist and laissez-faire positions. In addition to the list of works cited at the end of this paper, several public policy institute web site were reviewed for pertinent material. These sites include: the Heritage Foundation...
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...RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $14 AN HOUR USING THIS ONE WEIRD TRICK! February 26, 2014 Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services 1.1K Democrats believe they've hit on the perfect issue to distract from the horror of Obamacare in the 2014 elections: the minimum wage. Apparently, increasing the minimum wage was not important for American workers during the first five years of Obama's presidency -- least of all his first two years, when Democrats controlled Congress and could have passed anything. (And did!) No. The minimum wage did not become a pressing concern until an election year in which the public's hatred of Obamacare is expected to be the central issue. As The New York Times explained, Democrats see the minimum wage as an issue that "will place Republican candidates in a difficult position," and also as a tool "to enlarge the electorate in a nonpresidential election, when turnout among minorities and youths typically drops off." (Unlike Republicans, Democrats consider it important to win elections.) To most people, it seems as if the Democrats are giving workers something for nothing. But there are always tradeoffs. No serious economist denies that increasing the minimum wage will cost jobs. If it's not worth paying someone $10 an hour to do something, the job will be eliminated -- or it simply won't be created. The minimum wage is the perfect Democratic issue. It will screw the very people it claims to help, while making...
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...Outline I. Introduction II. Minimum Wage Defined a. Past Minimum Wage Law b. Considerations III. Increased Minimum Wage and Employment c. Job Losses d. Unskilled Workers IV. Increased Minimum Wage and Poverty V. Increased Minimum Wage and Effects for Society e. Costs of Labor f. Higher Prices g. Individual Impacts VI. Constitutionalism h. Previous Court Rulings i. Free Contract VII. Demotivation Factors j. Education k. Promotions VIII. Minimum Wage Redundancy IX. Conclusion The issue of raising the minimum wage is a highly debated topic. This topic is one that appeals to people from all walks of life. During some time in an individual’s life, he has worked for minimum wage. There will always be the worker who feels he is not paid enough and the boss who feels that the worker’s pay is adequate for the work. “If there were only two economists left in the world, they would disagree about the minimum wage” (Mejeur 14). Minimum wage is basically the minimal amount that an employer can legally pay an employee for work on an hourly basis. Past laws governed that the minimum wage would increase every few years, with the last increase being in 2009 for $7.25 per hour (Funk & Wagnalls 1). Many people feel an increase is long overdue. Those people, however, are not looking at the entire picture. Increasing the minimum wage goes beyond simply giving people more money...
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...“The most important problem that we are facing now” (Christofferson, 2013). A significant contributing factor to this is the stagnant minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage will not only decrease income inequality, but also raise millions out of poverty, spur consumer spending, and ultimately lead to a more efficient workplace and workforce. Therefore, America needs to adopt one of the currently proposed $10.00+ minimum wage policies being discussed in the political arena and ensure it is being used in a responsible way to fight these problems. The federal minimum wage has went without a change for nearly a decade twice, from 1981 to 1990 and 1997 to 2007. There have been many more multi-year gaps as well (Federal, n.d.) As a result, the minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation over the last 40 years. The purchasing power of the $7.25 minimum wage set in 2009 has already dropped by 5.8% by 2013 (DeSilver, 2013). Since 1968 the power of the minimum wage is down 23% after adjusting for inflation (Boushey, 2014). There is, however, another way of weighing the minimum wage instead of just against inflation. In 1968 the minimum wage was 53% of the average wage for hourly lower level employees, compared to 2013 when it had fallen to 36% as much (Boushey, 2014). This measurement shows that the people making the minimum wage today are not only falling behind their own historic levels, but also behind the workforce as a whole. This is a significant factor in...
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...Minimum wage is defined as the lowest possible income that an employer can legally pay an employee. This ensures that all people are fairly paid and not defrauded by companies or businesses. Minimum wage is now a staple in 90 percent of countries in the world (Minimum). Even with these minimums, a person’s lifestyle is hard to maintain. Sustainability, in my opinion, is the ability to keep or maintain a certain amount of physical or mental property. In this light of sustainability, minimum wage is not a sustainable amount of money in which to survive with a basic quality of life. There are many supporters and objectors to the minimum wage debate. Supporters say that increasing minimum wage increases the workers earning power and wages. Objectors say that increasing minimum wage only leads to unemployment due to small companies’ inability to pay workers. Also the increased inflation rate of goods only hurts the economy, which leads to many jobs being lost, mainly the jobs held by minimum wage patrons. Although this is a heated debate there is one thing to which both sides agree; something needs to be implemented so that workers are not exploited by businesses. Economists are exploring the viability of minimum wage, the standard minimum wage payments, and if there is anything we can do to keep the world on an equal playing field. There are many thoughts and opinions on minimum wage. Minimum wage was put into practice to keep businesses from taking advantage of the “small people...
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...A bid to raise the country's minimum wage has failed. A Private Member's Bill from Labour MP David Clark was defeated 61 votes to 59 at its first reading in Parliament last night. This decision has some reasonable arguments. As we know sharp increase in minimum wage can be effect of increase unemployment in the country,cause an inflation and black market, though increase in minimum wage means increase level of economy in country. Obviously, the main reason that government did not increase minimum wage is a fear of increasing unemployment. It is an reasonable argument, because the demand of work places will increase Q3 (if the minimum wage rate will increase), but not all employers can pay more then equilibrium wage rate(Q2- the amount of employers which would pay new wage rate)and they will reduce the amount of employees, that will be the reason of unemployment. We can see this situation on the graph below. min wage W1 is the equilibrium wage rate in New Zealand, which is now less 13.75, because it is still unemployment, which is 6.9 %. Q3-Q2 - people who lost their jobs. Also sharp increase in minimum wage can cause inflation, because firm's revenue will be less if they will pay more to workers and they will increase their prices to stabilize their revenue. Another disadvantage is that increase in minimum wage can be reason of increasing black market labor, more people work in black market and firms can avoid to pay legal minimum. This will effect New Zealand economy badly...
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...Minimum Wage This assignment is to address the minimum wage within the market structure and maximizing profits. The market structures are competitive market, monopoly, and oligopoly. Minimum wage had been established to protect the work force from employers paying them low wages and to allow the employees to maintain a minimum living standard to protect against poverty. The United States Federal Governments current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Many states use this figure or increase the wage due to their cost living. California has increased theirs to $8.00 an hour. The cost of living is high in California and businesses have higher expenses compared to some other states. Many individuals have moved out of California because they cannot afford to live here. The minimum wage is still too low for one to maintain a normal living standard. They are unable to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. When there is an increase in the minimum wage the employees rejoice but the companies that have to pay it are not as happy. This increase is an added expense and the companies need to decide how the cost will be recouped. They will either pass on to the consumers by increasing the sell price of the goods to be sold or they will cut the difference in wage increase from another area. Companies will look at reducing their work force which may reduce the amount of production and/or the customer service the buyer would receive. Those with fewer skills and with less experience...
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... higher the wages will be. On the other hand, the supply of labour market is highly competitive that every household is the supplier of labour (Wall, 1995). Free and pliable labour market is self-regulating; the price of wages alter automatically to bring the market to equilibrium (Abbott, 2013). The Bertrand competition assumes that even in a market of two supplier, both assumes the other supplier will remain prices unchanged (Dufwenberg, Gneezy, Goeree, Nagel, 2007). In order to gain maximum benefits from the market, one has the incentive to cut price which leads to a price war. Minimum wage has been introduced as a floor price to deviate from the equilibrium to prevent competition and to increases the total income of a worker. Hence, increases household income and decrease welfare and assistance cost for the government (Root, 2014). Besides that, the introduction of this legislation can increase human capital accumulation; a low demand for unskilled labour, induced by a minimum wage, may encourage workers to accumulate human capital (Cahuc, Michel, 1996). However, surveys have been taken and shown that the majority agreed minimum wage creates unemployment within young, unexperienced or unskilled labour (Summer, 1991). High unemployment rate among teenagers, might have keep teenagers in school and not to join the work force in an early age, but this will not help increase in the total of household income for families with dependents. When the minimum wage is set by law...
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...Abolish or Sustain? The Minimum Wage Debate Sarah Campbell May 8, 2013 Abstract In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act established a federal minimum wage. Minimum wage has continuously increased throughout the years due to interest rates and the value of a dollar. Since its introduction the minimum wage has risen from 25 cents an hour to 7.25 dollars per hour in 2009. In President Obama’s recent State of the Union Address he states, “Working folks shouldn’t have to wait year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher.” He hopes to raise the minimum wage by 2014 to 9 dollars per hour. Following the President’s support on minimum wage increase Sen. Tom Harkin (Democrat-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (Democrat-California) formalized a proposal known as S.460, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 to increase the minimum wage by 2015 to $10.10. This proposal includes increasing the minimum wage (in three incremental increases of $.95) and then indexing it to inflation (“as prices rise, so would the minimum wage” (Cooper, Hall 2013)). Also, the tipped minimum wage (the minimum wage paid to workers who earn a portion of their wages in tips) would be increased in $0.85 increments from its current value of $2.13 per hour, where it has languished since 1991, until it reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage (Cooper, Hall 2013). However, in the current tough economic times many people argue that an increased minimum wage will only hurt and that...
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...Minimum wage legislation has been a topic of discussion for many years among economists. The first laws were introduced in Australia and New Zealand in order to protect minimum standard living for unskilled workers. At this point more than 90% of all countries have some kind of minimum wage legislation. However there are countries that do not set the minimum wage among those are: Germany, Finland, Iceland, Italy and other counties. Germany is the largest national economy in Europe. According to Central Intelligence Agency GDP of the country in 2011 is $2.94 trillion with real growth rate of 3.5%. Based on Trade Economic data unemployment rate of Germany in October 2011 was 6.5%. Despite the fact the Germany does not have a set minimum wage the average wages in western Germany is 27.9 euro per hour and 17.4 euro per our in Eastern German (source http://export.gov/germany based on data from 03/2011). The wages there are higher than average wages in European Union or worldwide. Of course there are laws of the German Government that regulate dismissal of workers/maternity leave/ vacation/health benefits; but not minimal wages. Minimum wage is set by the Government in order to protect unskilled workers. It provides employees with guaranteed minimum amount of income from their work to survive and pay their bills. It protects mostly adults from loosing their jobs to teenagers or foreigners that are ready to work for less than a minimum wage. However there are...
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...Law of Demand is a Bummer” Minimum wage is a political issue that is in constant debate in the United States. People should get paid respectively for their work. It is naïve to believe that a company could make cuts in certain areas of their business to be able to pay their workers more than minimum wage. The article mentions turning down the air conditioning or cutting hours of employees to compensate for a higher pay for workers. However, changing the environment of a business could affect how the customers enjoy the atmosphere and in turn can affect their return. I, for one, would see refuge in a nice, cool coffee shop in the middle of the summer over one that skimped on the AC. Also, I have worked quite a few minimum wage jobs in my life. When I had 3-4 hour shifts as opposed to 6-8, I felt like it was partially a waste of my time. So the cuts that the article mentions could more negatively affect the business than anything else. Increasing minimum wage would also, in turn, increase prices. In my opinion, if a worker wants their hourly wages increased, they should put in an effort to advance their skillset or education. If minimum wage was increased to $15 an hour, that would mean that (potentially) a 16 year old with their first job at Wendy’s would make over $30,000 a year if they were working full time. That is more than I made in my first full time position that was in the field I got my Bachelor’s degree in. To me, raising minimum wage for jobs that do not require...
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...Minimum wage In our country so many people live in poverty. Even if they are working hard and doing everything right. Except the government who has been spending so much money on foreign soil that we have none left to spend on ourselves. Minimum wage is not as high as it should be with all of these outrageous prices and spikes in gas and food. It should at least be bumped up to eight dollars an hour starting out or maybe more. In these times of need we need companies to start appreciating there help instead of working them to death with little to show for it. I understand that our country is in crises with the economy being so bad. I also understand that we should help other countries if we can because we may need help in the future and making allies is a big deal. And, on a cynical level, I suspect that the government may know more about this kind of stuff than we do. Nevertheless, the government’s solution to cut pay or lay off hardworking people is unfair to our country and to the everyday, hardworking people of our country. Knowing how it feels to be a hardworking American I support the raise in minimum wage. Having two children and a husband who is not working being a single working household, I know how hard it is trying to live on minimum wage. I probably have the least amount of bills a person can have but we still struggle every day. The government’s decision not to raise the minimum wage already is turning people against everything it stands for...
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