The Consequences of Raising Minimum Wage
Many minimum wage workers are pushing for an increase in the lowest amount that they can legally get compensated per each hour worked. When it comes to raising the minimum wage, people do not take in consideration all the things that could happen as a result of it being increased. Raising the minimum wage could have a disastrous effect on businesses that have a large amount of unskilled workers. These businesses would have to increase not only their minimum wage workers but the wages of all levels of employees. Almost all businesses have minimum wage workers. Therefore, almost all goods and services could increase in price. Everything from food, to games, to toys, and even living expenses would rise in price. Minimum wage should not be increased because people want it to be raised. Increasing the minimum wage would not be beneficial because it would result in an increase in the price of goods and services, result in the reduction in the number of jobs offered to unskilled workers, and cause complacency in the workforce.
First off, inflation is defined as a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. If the minimum wage were to be raised, it would make the prices of everything else raise as well. Also, the value of the dollar bill would decrease. For example, a candy bar that cost a dollar could increase in price to a dollar and fifty cents. “The upshot of all this: first, any inflation generated by an
My topic of interest is the effects of raising minimum wage in the U.S. Minimum wage is defined as the lowest wage permitted by law or by special agreement. In 1938, President Roosevelt signed a bill called the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which set the minimum wage at $0.25. Although, overtime inflation devalued the amount of the dollar so it was raised there on. After raising the minimum wage the cost of living would keep going up every year. Also, currently advocates are arguing that the living wage should be 125% above the poverty line so that full time workers can afford a living.
One of the biggest political topics in today's society is the federal minimum wage and whether it should be raised or kept at where it is now at $7.25 an hour. Arguments could be made for both sides on whether it should be raised or left alone. The majority of minimum wage in today’s job market are unskilled positions. Minimum wage jobs were created for teenagers and colleges kids as a way to get into the workforce and to have a little extra money for themselves. It was not designed to be a wage for people to live on. Increasing the minimum wage would hurt the economy by hurting small businesses, a huge loss of jobs and it would increase the competition between teens and adults. Overall if the federal minimum wage is increased it will have many negative effects on the economy.
The case against raising the minimum wage is very simple: a higher wage will make it more difficult and expensive to companies to hire workers. What will be the consequences on the economy? Well, companies won’t be able to pay all of its workers which will lead to more unemployment. At the end, people who keep their job will have a higher profit, however those who lose their job will suffer.
Raising the minimum wage is a very important public policy issue. Raising the minimum wage is a responsible policy that is supported by research and demanded by the American public. Each day, minimum wage workers across the country struggle to make ends meet and provide a decent life for their kids (Scott & Perez, 2016). Raising the minimum wage is a controversial issue, many believe that raising the minimum wage would only provide low wage workers more money to spend. However, the benefits can be endless for low wage workers. If minimum wage is increased across the United States it would afford the people effected more opportunities for financial freedom. Increasing the minimum wage would raise the standard of living for low wage workers, allow families to be removed from poverty, allow for government welfare spending to be reduced and lastly additional income being spent would positively affect the economy.
Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour can have detrimental effects on society. Some issues that may arise are increases in unemployment and small businesses not being able to handle the financial burden, which will lead into job benefit cuts. Furthermore, a rise in minimum wage will cause inflation and businesses to raise the prices of their goods and services. People purchasing power will continue to stay the same; the struggle to close the gap between products and services will not
Many argue that raising the minimum wage makes hiring workers more expensive, eliminates jobs at the bottom, slows growth and ultimately raises unemployment. Economic studies show that raising the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation creates little additional harm, but what the president is
Raising the minimum wage is a false idea that millions of Americans have; people believe it will put more money in their pocket and will be making more money than he or she is now. This is a wrong accusation to make. The people wanting to raise the minimum wage is the people of lower income levels. If the government raises the minimum wage, the cost of living is going to go up, guaranteed. Many people think that raising the minimum wage will help kids pay for school, when this actually encourages them to drop out early in the pursuit of money.
Overall, minimum wage should not be increased because of the effect it would have on smaller businesses, movivation to work, and demand for labor. Over the years minimum wage has been used as motivator and has supported smaller businesses. If minimum wage were to be increased so would unemployment and the crime rate. The demand would be increased, leading to a supply decrease. Although it is debatable whether or not minimum wage should be increased, it is clear that it would cause more problems than it would
The United States’ minimum wage has been a concerning issue amongst the low wage earners because of the amount they earn is not enough for them to live on their own. Therefore causing the citizens who earn minimum wage to have an impossible time finding a place to stay and expenses for daily survival. Increasing the minimum wage will solve the issues that the minimum wage earners make, thus increasing the chances of survival for the entire population. Inflation is one of the reasons why minimum wage is a big issue, the minimum wage has not been keeping up with inflation at all causing things that would regularly be cheap to be more costly than it used to be. There are people who are against the raise of the minimum wage and may say that there will be an increase between of unemployment rate between the younger people because of the fact
Even though Ms.Steele considers the down fall of raising minimum wage, Mr.Knight provides clear evidence that raising minimum wage would help the America's economy.A 2011 study showed that increasing minimum wage lead to higher consumer spending.Another study showed that in the first six months of 2014 states that increased minimum wage, increased in jobs also.Last but not least, in 2014 University of Massachusetts Ameherst found that increasing minimum wage would lift 4.5 million Americans out of poverty and 3.5 million from food stamps.
The federal minimum wage has been in effect since The Great Depression. Recently, it has become a hotly contested issue. Should it be raised or not? The issue is a complicated one because some believe that more harm will come than good and many believe this because majority of people are misinformed on the impact raising minimum wage can have on the American economy and families. According to Cato Institute’s article on Reasons Not to Raise the Minimum Wage, the important or more discussed problems that are argued by antagonist are job loss, higher prices for consumers, and the little effect on reducing poverty. Although these problems seem significant, protagonist will say the war against poverty and income
Raising the minimum wage comes with two sides good and bad the good side is people would be getting paid better and making more money, and bad side would be product prices would increase. If the price of living wasn’t so outrageous we wouldn’t have to worry about minimum wage or the people below the poverty line. If minimum wage goes up inflation is most likely going to rise and it really wouldn’t make a difference then because the individual would still be in the same boat trying to afford things.
In 1938, the first national minimum wage laws in the United States were passed as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which served as “a floor below wages,” to reduce poverty and to ensure that economic growth is shared across the workforce. Today, many people who work for companies that pay at or near the minimum wage and remain near or below the poverty level rely on government health and food security and income programs to supplement their living expenses. Since 1938, there have been many additional policies to the Fair Labor Standards Act that have changed many things, such as increasing the national minimum wage numerous times to the currently salary level, which was set in 1997. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, from the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, was a policy to change the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 in three additions, which began in July of 2009. (U.S., 2009).
The most prevalent and steadfast myth surrounding the raising of the federal minimum wage is that it will doom the economy. This might seem logical at first, but just think about it for a second. Why do minimum wage employees need more cash? The answer is simple: To spend it, to buy the things that they and their families need to survive. “Most minimum wage workers need this income to make ends meet and spend it quickly, boosting the economy. Research indicates that for every $1 added to the minimum wage, low-wage worker households spent an additional $2,800 the following year” (Fair). Furthermore, EPI estimates that if the federal minimum wage were raised to $10.10 an hour, it would result in over
Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 is not the answer. The various amount of unintended consequences that would come about as a result is reason enough not to support an increase. Those who support an increase contend that it will alleviate poverty. Suppose a spike in the minimum wage does reduce poverty for some workers. This development will be offset since an increase in the minimum wage will further price out inexperienced workers from the job market, resulting in an increase in unemployment and thus, poverty. This can properly be described as a catch-22 situation; no matter happens, someone will lose. When you take these negative affects into account, is an increase in the minimum wage worth it? As expounded further, no it is not.