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National Living Wage

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Is the new national living wage actually a step up for Britain?

On the 8th of July 2015, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced the regulations regarding the new national living wage. From April 2016, this will become law, which means that “If you’re working and aged 25 or over and not in the first year of an apprenticeship, you’ll be legally entitled to at least £7.20 per hour.” (HM Government, 2015) This an increase of 50p compared to the previous £6.70, which makes it the largest increase regarding the national living wage since 2009. (GOV.UK, 2016) This essay will discuss the likely economic effects the new national living wage will have on productivity, employment and poverty. It will do so by stating a general assumption …show more content…

Income and poverty are strongly linked. The first assumption, therefore is, that with an increase in the national living wage, resulting in more income, poverty is likely to go down. This, however, does not mean it is a cure for poverty. The national living wage is for everyone and even though this seems to be a fair concept. There will still be people which are not as well of as others. Much more has to be done in order to decrease poverty than a 50 pence increase in the national living wage. The increase might have been announced with good intentions but “one principle is fundamental in the amelioration of poverty: those who are equally in need should be helped equally.” (Stigler, 1946: 364) While higher wages could be seen as some type of help many of the workers benefiting from them are not even classified as poor which means that poverty is not as directly affected as employment or productivity. Another factor that will not benefit those living in poverty is the increase in prices that is assumed to come with the new national living wage. This is due to increased demand for goods and services as well as producers trying to balance out the additional money they now have to spend on wages. Which leads to the difference between those living in poverty while having a job and those who are not employed. The extra 50 pence earned every hour will give those being employed the possibility to make up for the higher prices and might even help them out of poverty. People moving out of poverty could also benefit the government. During the financial year 2013/2014 the UK spent £251 billion on welfare. (ONS Digital, 2015) From April 2016, when the workers will earn more this could mean there might be less additional support needed from the government and at the same time more money available to the government to invest elsewhere such as in education or

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