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Case Study Econ 545 Week 2

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Case Study: Ethical Issues in Business, Week 2
Keller Graduate School of Management
ECON545, November 13, 2013

Price Discrimination
An ethical issue that individuals face today involves the price war or price discrimination involving the airline industry. According to the legal definition of price discrimination: Price discrimination is the practice of charging different persons different prices for the same goods or services. Price discrimination is made illegal under the Sherman Antitrust Act. 15 U.S.C. §2, the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. §13, and by the Robinson-Patman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§13-13b, 21a, when engaged in for the purpose of lessening competition, such as tying the lower prices to the purchase of other goods or services. …show more content…

However, when the equilibrium price is beyond the expectation of a fair market value, for reasons of political or social concerns governments will intervene in the market and establish limits on such things as wages, apartment rents, electricity, or agricultural commodities. Government uses price ceilings and price floors to keep prices below or above market equilibrium. (Stone, 2012, page 68)
The increase of the minimum wage would be considered the floor price establish by the government to balance out the minimum wage against the cost of living expense. In theory the statements made would be consistent with the effects of the increase of the minimum wage. Higher wages would potentially cause businesses to reduce the amount of part-time worker due to the incurred cost of wages/operations. Higher wages does not equate to a higher demand of warranted good so the cost of production would increase but not the cost of goods sold nor would there be an increase of revenue for the businesses. Additionally, the individuals being terminated (part-timers) would not have been considered members of the union so the lost would have no negative impact on the union however, the few part-timer that stayed would probably consider joining the union to secure their position in the company. As a minimum being in the union ensures these employees will have someone representing

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