In the article, “Minimum Wage Hikes Hurt Low-Income Workers,” Jame Sherk debates how an increase in the minimum wage would impact workers and corporations. Sherk builds his argument by first explaining the recent history of an increasing minimum wage and how much it has risen. Following, he argues why it would hurt businesses and low-income workers. Lastly, after illustrating the consequences, he offers statistical evidence to support his claim and to prove to the reader why the hike would only hurt both businesses and low-income workers. Sherk’s use of evidence and explanation offers a strong argument and a clear stance.
In theory, raising the minimum wage would lessen America’s dependence on such benefits. If workers are making more money, Hanauer says that workers are spending more, and increasing the demand for more workers as opposed to cutting jobs. Hanauer closes his essay by telling the reader to see the economy as Henry Ford did; an effective economy is one that works for all not just part of the country. ANALYSIS: After reading Nicolas Hanauer’s essay on raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, I take an affirmative stance on this issue. The main reason for siding with Hanauer is that he is thinking about how many people can get an upper hand with a wage increase.
First, one main reason that the minimum wage should be raised is because the economy will prosper. “Economic Policy Institute stated that a minimum wage increase from the current rate of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 would inject $22.1 billion net into the economy and create about 85,000 new jobs over a three-year phase-in period” (ProCon). This quote shows that the economy will flourish from the increase of the minimum wage and that unemployment will decrease. Another quote that shows how raising the minimum wage will affect employment is “To the extent that through these contour effects it affords as much as 70 percent of the workforce greater purchasing power, it effectively increases aggregate demand for goods and services, which should ultimately lead to the creation of more jobs” (Challenger 19). Bryan Covert supports raising the minimum wage by
In fact, 18% of the benefits would go to households with an annual income less than $20,000. Benefits of an incrementation disproportionately avail those working households at the bottom of the scale. Albeit households in the bottom 20% receive only 5% of national income. Benefits of the antecedent minimum wage increase peregrinated to these workers. A majority
By doing so, raising wages will actually help solve this as credit reliance will drop, and people with newfound spending power will be able to go out and buy what they want and desire. Let’s say that a student (specifically a college student) has to worry about grades, and can hardly balance their work-life. But however, that student can’t quit his/her job because that person needs help to pay for their college tuition. Financial Aid is helping her lower her tuition money, but however will soon graduate with a large amount of student-loan debt, which is a college student’s worst nightmare! Even with the loans, financial-aid package and assistance from his/her parents, not having a job is not the option.
A minimum wage increase from “$7.25 to $10.10 would result in a loss of 500,000 jobs”. ("The Effects of Minimum-Wage Increase on Employment and Family Income”) This claim is better because it shows how raising the minimum wage will decrease job growth instead of increasing it. But, the minimum wage should be increased because increasing will also increase economic activity and spur job growth, decrease poverty, and improvements in productivity and economic growth have outpaced increases in the minimum
The idea may sound great. The more money the more people consume. Yes, that is true if we build more jobs, But increasing the minimum wage could lead to another economic problem. If Congress raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour, the employer would be paying $18.61 an hour. The employer would be paying $15 for the minimum wage, $0.19 for unemployment insurance taxes, $1.15 in payroll taxes, and $2.21 per hour in Obamacare penalties.
Introduction A crucial component of American labor policy has been the minimum wage for nearly eight decades (Maverick, 2024). Throughout its history, the economic consequences of this have generated enthusiastic discussions. In this essay, I aim to examine the complex economic effects of the minimum wage in the United States, while weighing its benefits and drawbacks. This essay tries to look at the subtle differences between the arguments on both sides of the issue, which is something that should be acknowledged. Historical Content Political conflicts and labor movements have influenced the federal minimum
Many politicians, business owners, and citizens hold fast to the belief that heightening the salary attached to minimum wage positions will yield negative benefits for our society. This opinion is supported by three vital view-points. The first can be found in the news article, “The Argument Against Raising Minimum Wage.” It expresses how the enlargement of this payment will take a toll on employment. The document reasons that if the amount of money employees earn is expanded, companies will be less likely to hire as many workers (Huppke).
In 2013, 3.3 million Americans worked at an hourly rate at or below the federal minimum of $7.25 (Undisputed Facts 3). Hourly workers take on the difficult and dreaded work that no one else wants to endure, and in return, receive the bare minimum. Minimum wage workers deserve more, but instead they find themselves dealing with the hardships placed upon their families and themselves because of a lack of companion from the federal government. This is a serious problem that needs to be rectified, not only in the United States, but around the world. The national minimum wage should be raised to achieve alignment with the rising cost of living, reduce poverty, and create more jobs.
Since its beginning in 1938, the federal minimum wage has been raised twenty-two times. It is important to know that the minimum wage does not rise with inflation. Rather, it can only rise with congressional action when they believe it is appropriate to do so (“Wage and Hour Division”). It is also important to keep in mind that quite a few states have their own minimum wage laws,
One of the greatest effects of a $15 an hour minimum wage would be its impact on
Introduction Minimum wage is a touchy subject for many people. There are people who want to make $15 an hour working at McDonald’s flipping hamburgers, but they don’t think about how every day prices at the store would increase to compensate for a higher minimum wage. I have chosen the history and effect of the minimum wage because I’m interested to see how minimum wage was back in the day, how the minimum wage has influenced every day prices, and why the minimum wage keeps increasing. 1 Past minimum wage Minimum wage has increases significantly and doubling within the last 27 years.
We find no evidence that minimum wage increases between 2003 and 2007 affected overall state poverty rates. ”(Leigh, A. (2007) Proposals to increase the minimum wage are politically popular because they are widely seen as an effective way to help the working poor. In spite of it, state and federal minimum wage increases between 2003 and 2007 had no effect on reducing the poverty rates. “Minimum wage increases have thus far provided little more than symbolic support to the working poor.”
If America raises the minimum wage to $9.00, it will help people in need or in poverty, but it also won’t hurt people in the workforce. If you increase the minimum wage to $15.00 it will make unemployment rates go high up. Which in the process, makes the homelessness rates go up in the country and in your community. If you keep the minimum wage at $7.25 people will stay in poverty and homeless or on the verge of homelessness.
