The minimum wage is a metric which dictates the minimum cost that low-wage labor has on a firm (Lopresti and Mumford 2016). Wages are a cost, but may conversely be understood as an incentive for employees. The minimum wage determines the quality of work which is supplied to employers. An increase in the minimum wage improves wage-growth for workers, increases the supply of workers, and creates a competitive environment which allocates jobs to the most qualified workers, thereby increasing efficiency and quality in the market. First, the minimum wage sets a common standard for how employers determine pay for low-wage workers. Lopresti and Mumford (2016) state that an increase in the minimum wage less than 5% has a negative impact on wages for low-income workers; a minimum wage increase greater than 20% showed significant improvement in the wage-growth of the same group. Setting a low wage-growth standard is harmful to the worker. However, a significant increase in the minimum wage would set a high wage-growth standard. A high wage-growth, for the employed worker, increases their income and financial stability. …show more content…
The minimum wage, by the nature of its pay, attracts workers with minimal experience and training. The cost of increasing the minimum wage may not appear beneficial. Ippolito (2003) argues that an increase in the minimum wage widens the pool of workers who apply for jobs. The larger supply includes higher skilled workers who are willing to work hard to retain or obtain a job. Kaufman (2010) states that an increase in the supply of workers brings the labor market to a competitive equilibrium and incentivizes firms to retain or hire employees who provide high quality work since the marginal cost to pay inefficient employees has
There is a lot of controversy over whether the minimum wage should be increased to 15$ an hour in all states. Proponents say that current wages in America are not livable because inflation is way higher than the current minimum wage; Minimum wage was 1.60 in 1968, which is equal to 11.60 today. Opponents say that many cannot afford this, will have to close down, make cuts, raise prices and lay off people because they will need to pay them more. Most economists believe that that high of an increase would hurt job growth. I believe that Increasing the minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour nationwide will do more harm than good. Raising the minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour nationwide is too big of a jump and would just cause businesses to cut off workers, force small businesses to close and increase inflation.
Minimum wage is the minimum hourly wage an employee can be paid from their employer. The federal minimum wage is set at seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour in the state of Mississippi. Some states have chosen to raise their minimum wage higher than federal requires. San Francisco, CA, has the highest minimum wage fixed at ten dollars and fifty-five cents. Even though, some states have a higher minimum wage than others. The Fair Labor Standards Act entails every employee to be paid the same amount. If minimum wage was to be raised, it would have advantages and disadvantages.
Working is supposed to help people get out of poverty, not live in it. People deserve to get rewarded for their hard work and should be paid to live a better life. But with the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, it is hard for workers to even pay for their necessities. Minimum wage should be raised to help workers feed themselves and to take care of their families with their wages. It will also help boost the economy, finish inequality and the poverty from this society.
A very controversial yet interesting issue today in the United States is minimum wage if it should be increased or not. While some want to raise minimum wage to the living wage, minimum wage should not be raised because it increases low skilled worker unemployment, increases the Cost of goods/services,and Cuts back on work hours.
During the 2008 Global Recession, the employment rate for young adults and low skilled workers disproportionately, and once the recession had eased the employment gap based on education worsened significantly. In 2016 Presidential election raising the minimum wage became a key policy issue for the Democratic Party to help give those workers who were hit the hardest during the recession a much needed income boost. During the 2016 Democratic National Convention the Democrats agreed to add a $15 minimum wage into the party’s platform, taking a pivotal step sought by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and labor Unions. When it comes to raising the minimum wage and what it would do to U.S. employment, prices and productivity. Economists are willing
The minimum wage has been a topic of discussion for decades. It was introduced in the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, originally set at $0.25. It has since been raised 29 times. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 and was set in 2009 (11). This is the reason many people are upset with the wage not increasing. It would take $8.09 in 2016 to equal the $7.25 from 2009. The minimum wage needs to be increased to boost the economy and lift families out of poverty. However, the minimum wage should not be increased to more than $10 per hour to prevent an increase in the price of consumer goods and prevent a spike in high school dropout rates.
There has always been a mentality in the United States when it came to providing for yourself or others, and it’s that if you want to live a better lifestyle then you have to work for it. Ever since the industrial revolution that was the idea the United States were known for, the American dream. The opportunity of working hard enough so you can have a better life is the reason why so many people migrated to the United States. So many of them learned it was pretty hard to accomplish that goal while earning so little and working in dangerous jobs with little to no restrictions. Many immigrants lived in horrible conditions because of this and it wasn't until the government started putting restrictions and regulations on how little you can pay
A wage increase in our country would do a world of good rather than harm. This country is in dire need of a wage increase but just because it needs one doesn’t mean people shouldn’t read in between the lines and how it will be helpful. Minimum wage was always the status quo in this country there was a time where it didn’t exist. With time however, it established itself into our modern day society. Because of the growth of the country the minimum wage was left untouched forgetting what it was made to do in the first place. There are some negatives pertaining to raising the wage, some fictional others factual. Before, it was raised to compliment the normal amount money required for the standard of living for Americans. However, it never raised
What do you think happens when you lose your job? What if you were over fifty years old and only a few years before retirement? You don't get special treatment for all of your hard work until then. you get a call from The bank.you are infomed that you are late on your payments. To avoid losing your house that you have spent 15 or more years paying the loans, you get a job fast. You are now working two full time jobs to pay off the remaining loan and the extra charges because of being late on a few charges. You get home after an unbearable 12 hour day, which you have another 12 hour shift tomorrow, and see a car in your yard and a person with a suit and a notepad closely inspecting your house. You ask the person what's going on and they say
Families will have better care, reducing demands on the health care system. More money means people can spend money on better products at the supermarket which means there is less of the chance of them become ill. That leads to them being less of a burden on the government and the government does not have to spend tons of money on health care. When people start spending money the economy starts going and businesses make enough money to pay the higher wages. “Raising the minimum wage would be good for our economy. A higher minimum wage not only increases workers’ incomes—which is sorely needed to boost demand and get the economy going.”(Lester) Low wage workers are most likely spending the money where other low wage worker work at. This would
There are only a few ways a restaurant can manage a required wage increase and maintain profits. To stay in business, low earning restaurants like Waffle Now, would have to make all sorts of budget cuts. A lot will have to be lost in order to raise server wages.
According to investopedia.com, “minimum wage is the minimum amount of compensation an employee must receive for performing labor. Minimum wages are typically established by contract or legislation by the government. As such, it is illegal to pay an employee.” The minimum wage is something that many people start off when commencing their own dependent life. Many lower classes depend on the minimum wage so that they can feed their families and try to live a prosperous life. The minimum wage in the United States can be underestimated, and many do not view it as an important role in the economy. The minimum wage in the U.S should be raised due to the positive effects it may have on the labor workers, the increase in productivity, and the benefits it may bring to minimum wage workers.
In their April 2016 Health Economics article, “Introduction of a National Minimum Wage Reduced Depressive Symptoms in Low-Wage Workers: A Quasi-Natural Experiment in the UK,” authors Aaron Reeves, Martin McKee, Johan Mackenbach, Margaret Whitehead, and David Stuckler examine how an increase in minimum wage in the UK improves health through an examination and survey of a few different groupings of the population. The authors assessed mental illness, smoking habits, blood pressure, and hearing ability on groups that received in an increase in minimum wage compared with control groups that were not affected by an increase in minimum wage because they either already had a higher wage than the minimum or because their firm did not increase wages.
Increasing the minimum wage doesn't seem good for the British economy, it would do more harm than good. Giving people a more livable wage is great but I think it's more complicated than just increasing the minimum wage. As mentioned in the article it puts people like Ms. Von Der Heyde in difficult situations. Increasing the minimum wage seems to only be a realistic idea for big companies. Businesses with thousands of customers could potentially increase their prices by a small amount and have enough to account for the higher wages. While a small business such as the Georgian House Hotel would have to substantially increase prices or cut workers to afford the higher wages.
Minimum wage is the lowest wage permitted by law or a special agreement that can be applied for an employee. Governments set minimum wage on business for reduced poverty and increases in the standard of living. In 2009 from six dollar and fifty five cents to seven dollars and twenty five cents, minimum wage has increased and has been beneficial up to the minimum wage. In 2014 it will be a dollar up so it is going to be tough. The issue is whether to raise the minimum wage or not. For this reason I think it would be beneficial to the economy if the minimum wage is stay to seven dollars and twenty five because it will decrease the unemployment rate, increase product price and help youth and unskilled workers.