The Wisconsin minimum mark-up law (also known as the Unfair Sales Act), sec. 100.30, is a law that was passed in 1939 forcing retailers (gas stations) must markup their prices for motor vehicle fuel either 6% above what they paid for it or 9.18% above the average terminal cost advertised in their area, whichever is greater. One point to note is that the 9.18% is not the retailer’s marginal cost but it is a terminal price, which is more than likely higher than the gas station’s actual cost, putting consumers in a worse position. As the main controversy of the law lies within the premium pricing of gasoline, the law also applies to the sales of prescription drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and other products sold within the store. When first …show more content…
Since we are able to make wholesale purchases and get large discounts on our gasoline, we no longer have to markup our gas prices and we can keep a very low profit margin on our gasoline, which will in turn attract customers. With the increase in customers, we should be able to reasonably expect our in store sales to increase as well, which is where we expect a majority of our profit to come in from anyways. Moreover, from Chevron’s perspective, we should be worried that the current ruling does not get appealed because if it does we potentially can be worse off than we were before because of being forced to change our prices drastically which has a negative impact towards our market.
From a personal perspective, I agree with the ruling of the law to be unconstitutional as well. Although the recent ruling of the law does not cause a concerted action for the fixation of gasoline prices, it still does indirectly impose a form of price fixation. The prices are not fixed but it still forces gasoline retailers to set their prices according to Legislation, which otherwise would be illegal. This type of parallel pricing which is imposed if the law were to stay in place is exactly what the Sherman Act prohibits. Moreover, the main arguments to the law being in place are basically that smaller independent gas station owners will be driven out of business by the larger competitor’s ability to lower their prices. Rarely, however, does it occur that
The minimum wage is not suitable for society because it is too low and due to this, employees tend to overwork with more than one job, which leads them to not be available for their families enough, and they are unable to make progress with this wage
If there is anything that must be said, more taxes equal higher prices. The only way to lower gas prices is through reducing taxes and regulation. Many argue that the regulations in place in the state of California are over the top and unnecessary. There has never been a time in human history that more taxes resulted in lower prices. The “oil-extraction tax” is a disastrous plan that would only result in upset consumers because of the terribly high prices that would be
One of the most talked about subjects in the U.S economy is the topic of minimum wage. With president Obama’s increase in the minimum wage to 10.10$ per hour people, both economists and politicians alike, have been debating whether raising the bar is a smart idea. At a time when the country the country’s inflation continues to rise at a steady pace and Americans are constantly working to feed their families, some economists know that a raise in the minimum wage would help elevate some of the difficulty. The last time the federal minimum wage was raised was in July of 2009, where rose from 6.55$ to 7.25$. However, there are plenty of reasons as to why the wage should be raised. Some may not think it, but raising the
If the government decides to continue with the drilling of new sites or expand the Keystone XL Pipeline there are environmental dangers and concerns to follow and still not enough oil production to fuel the countries demand. The importing of oil from foreign countries would still be a necessity. For now the prices of gasoline are still on the rise and with use of the oil money future tool prices are sure to continue rising. As it seems in this current economic crisis, consumers need to make their voice heard with the government and hope something will change with the way oil is produced and imported to lower the cost for everyone.
The federal minimum wage law was signed in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt in order to keep people out of poverty and increase consumer purchasing power. This has done the opposite by hurting businesses and reducing employment, while minimum wages go up, so will the costs of living. Most of the people working for minimum wage are 16 between 24 years old, 37% of workers are going to school working part time. Enrollment tuition has increased over the years, and raising the minimum wage could mean further increasing expenses. But, for people who aren 't pursuing an education and begin working right out of school, the federal minimum wage $7.25 looks like it can be hard to live on. Raising the minimum wage would most likely increase with the cost of living, making cost of living or tuition even more expensive, making it harder to pay for groceries or bills. Just because someone starts out at a minimum wage job, doesn 't mean they can 't progress through the company and earn a better wage over the years. Minimum wages are more for entry level paying jobs that don 't require any certain set of skills to be able to do what they ask. Maintaining the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 will help stop rise of inflation.
We all need money. We need it to buy food or to pay for bills in adult life. It is a necessity for us to survive in this world. The minimum wage law was introduced in 1938 during the Great Depression as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act. These laws require employers to pay an employee nothing less than a set amount . The first wage set was 25 cents per hour, and recently in 2009 to $7.25. Congress only raises the minimum wage when the economy is healthy, mainly when there is low unemployment (Sherk). Ultimately they should not increase the federal minimum wage. It hurts the less fortunate, it keeps people below the poverty line and creates unemployment.
Aaronson, Daniel (2001), "Price Pass-Through and the Minimum Wage", The Review of Economics and Statistics 83(1), 158-169.
The minimum wage has constituted a hotbed issue in America ever since its beginning in 1938 via the Fair Labor Standards Act (Acs et al, 2914). Notably, in the past few years, fast food workers, service industry employees and American workers feeling the pinch of inflation have clamored for an increase in the minimum wage. The concept of a $15 minimum wage is a symbol for creating less disparity for minimum wage workers. However, while the concept is pure of heart and idealistic, it would be dangerous for the U.S. economy. This can already be seen in places like Seattle, Washington, Emeryville, California. Consumers would suffer as businesses would be forced to raise prices in order to make up the difference from the added human resources expenditures
The retailer's price increase to the final consumer is between 4 and 8 cents a gallon, meaning that there is little option for the consumer to shop on price. Further, consolidation has been active in oil as in other industries. A different brand name does not signify that the gasoline is being sold by
I also wrote about how the minimum wage policy directly benefits me. My job started me at minimum wage and I am thankful that the policy is in place or I could have been making less. I do believe that the number is low though. Minimum wage in North Carolina has not increased since 2009, but the cost of living has. I like how you pointed out that it is only $15,080 a year because we must recognize that many people are working full time as their only job. I believe that policy makers should consider raising the minimum wage in North Carolina.
A reason I think this is one of my favorite case is because this is one of the earlier cases of Judicial Activism. I tend to agree with Holmes’ dissent more because he argues that the constitution should not be used to limit governmental regulation under the guise of the 14th amendment to promote a Laissez-fair form of economics. “But a constitution is not intended to embody a particular economic theory, whether or paternalism and the organic relation of the citizen to the state or laissez-fair” (Lochner 813). He states that “Every opinion tends to become a law. I think that the word liberty in the Fourteenth Amendment is perverted when it is held to prevent the natural outcome of a dominant opinion….” (Lochner 813). He disagreed with the majority Justice’s conclusion that creates law from the bench. It is the job of the legislature to create laws
The demand of gasoline has increased steadily over the last twenty years. In 1981 the U.S. averaged 6.5 million barrels of gasoline consumption per day. By comparison, in 2004 the U.S. averaged 9.2 million barrels of gasoline consumption per day. For most of this time period, gas prices stayed relatively the same. This is because the U.S. refineries increased their production to meet the demand and maintain the equilibrium price. Also during this same time period worldwide demand for crude oil increased 27%. Crude oil producers also increased their production to meet the demand keeping prices the same.
From the recent case data, ExxonMobil has not acted irresponsibility in pricing its gasoline products. Outside of the grocery industry, I have not heard of any business segments surviving on less than a 5% profit margin. In reading that ExxonMobil reported only a net profit of 8.5%3, it is difficult to state that the firm over priced its products to reap abnormal profits. Although Mr. Lee Raymond’s $400 million retirement seems grossly out of proportion in utilitarian terms, adding these funds back into the firm’s bottom line would not change the profit results. With profit margins of less than 10%, it is unlikely that ExxonMobil would be able to keep the price of gasoline fixed if sweet crude oil were to increase from $80 per barrel to $88. This 10% increase in raw material cost would have to be passed through to the customer in the form of higher prices for the firm to survive.
The US consumed 142 billion gallons of gasoline in 2007 and the tax applied on it is 18. 4 cents on one gallon. All around the US, there are around 162,000 retail gasoline outlets. With the price of crude oil hovering around $100 a barrel, it is no wonder that concern is growing about the gas prices being so high. After all, modern economies are kept moving by this lifeblood. For instance, in the United States alone personal vehicles consume more than 140 billion gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline per year.However, there are several factors that contribute to the gas prices being so high. Given below are a few of them. Increasing Demand for Oil One of the main catalysts for the incessant rise in gas prices has been one of the most
R. Preston McAfee, Price Discrimination, in 1 ISSUES IN COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY 465 (ABA Section of Antitrust Law 2008)