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
Is it ethical to raise the minimum wage when it doesn’t necessarily affect the very poor, the people it’s aimed at helping? The minimum wage is the lowest hourly wage an employer is permitted by law to pay an employee for his work. The current federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 an hour. Across the country, there is an overwhelming push in favor of raising wages for our poorest workers. In January 2016 the minimum wage in California was raised to $10 an hour.
When you raise minimum wage you raise the price in everything else for instance if minimum wage was raised ten percent that also raises restaurant prices 0.7 cents that may not sound like a lot but it starts adding up sooner or later and who knows then it could raises prices a whole dollar. Some people think that because the cities they live in are so expensive that minimum wage should be raised but if you live in an expensive city and are also living off minimum wage and can not afford it then you should not be living there. Also women think that they can not have a good lifestyle for their children with what minimum wage is paying. If you are living off minimum wage and trying to raise children then maybe you should find a different job where you can afford a life for your kids. Minimum wage should be raised because the economy is at a point where if minimum wage is raised there would not be a drastic change.
Jamie Richardson, MBA Vice President of fast food chain White Castle, states that the company would be forced to close almost half its stores and let go thousands of workers if the federal minimum wage were raised to $15. Her story is much like how many others would be if the minimum wage were raised. This is why it would make the situation worse by raising it. Even though proponents believe that they would be doing them a favor by giving them more pay, they are really not helping anyone, including themselves. The minimum wage should not be raised because of the loss of jobs, increase of market prices, and the issues that will be caused.
This would make it where people wouldn 't have to live paycheck to paycheck. Raising the wage slightly would also make it so the price of goods wouldn 't have to be raised. The 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. This raise increase would be easy to implement and would help the economy. By implementing this new minimum wage many problems in America can be solved.
Imagine there is a standard, a standard that all labor, service, and other unskilled sectors of employment adhere to. That standard is to only pay the minimum compensation for their employee’s time. Many people, in America, know this as minimum wage. Minimum wage is not sufficient for any person working full time, a 40-hour workweek, to have a large enough income that is considered a living wage or even an income that provides the standard of living. There are two economic principles that are relevant to this topic.
. . The current value of the minimum wage in real dollars is at its lowest level since February 1956, when the lowest U.S. wage was 75 cents — the equivalent of $7.19 in June 2022 dollars” (Cerullo). The increase in the federal minimum wage and adjusting the price to compare with inflation would ensure that low-wage workers could adopt a standard of living that is equivalent to the current economy. The federal minimum wage should also be increased as it will allow minimum wage workers to afford basic living expenses. Currently, the minimum wage is not enough for people to afford housing and other necessities.
In conclusion, a federal minimum wage increase will significantly improve the standard of living of low-wage workers. To meet their basic needs, workers must be given a living wage. It is not only morally correct to do so, but also beneficiary to both ends. The increase in wages allows for a more supportable income, but it also stimulates the economy.
However, in Seattle, where the minimum wage in in the process of being raised to $15 and currently sits at $13, there is no noticeable increase in prices. Most small business owners actually support a raise of the minimum wage. In addition, a raise in minimum wage would have no measurable effect on employment rates. Raising the minimum wage would spark a huge change in large amounts of workers. There is actually a possibility of businesses saving money with a minimum wage increase due to a decrease in worker turnover.
The minimum wage was initially established to reduce poverty. Instituting a lowest pay level permitted in the United States guarantees that individuals are paid reasonably for their work and protects younger workers and minorities from being paid less than others. The current United States federal minimum wage is $7.25 a hour, and many argue that with increasing living expenses, the federal minimum wage should be raised, however, increasing base salaries can lead to inflation, fewer worker benefits and increased unemployment. Raising the minimum wage may allow employment to decrease across the country and can even result in fewer jobs for Americans. Businesses must pay their minimum wage employees the required pay and if increased, some
The topic of our debate is “The federal should raise minimum wage”. I am going to define the following terms: minimum wage- lowest legal wage that can be paid to most workers ($7.25). I the affirmative team believe the statements are true, our following contention will uphold my point: • Living Standard • Economy Contention 1: Living Standard Raising minimum wage will help many people that are in “living wage”. Living wage enables workers that can’t support their life and their families with a low amount of payment they get. Nearly 8 million Americans go to work every day yet still live the poverty line.
Since the Great Depression, there has been a minimum wage in America, but this minimum wage has changed 22 times since the Great Deprnbession. Many people say minimum wage should stay at $7.25 like it has been since 2009. Meanwhile, other people believe that minimum wage should be $15.00 so they can have more money to live comfortably. People think that a higher minimum wage will help, but it will hurt more people than it will help. If America makes the minimum wage $9.00, people will no longer be in poverty and it will make the economy balance out.
Economic research points to the conclusion that a higher minimum wage does not cause greater unemployment, boosts productivity, and addresses the growing problem of rising income inequality. The minimum wage debate currently underway tends to narrowly focus on those workers making exactly the minimum wage. This approach misses a large number
However, this has a few fundamental flaws. While larger businesses such as McDonalds or Walmart could easily pay a few dollars more to keep their stores open many smaller businesses do not have that kind of luxury. By raising the minimum wage many smaller businesses would either have to lay off workers or shut their doors entirely due to lack of funds. Not only that
However, in the long run, many employers will not be able to maintain to stay in business due to the significantly high wages. An increase in minimum wage would cause millions to lose their jobs and put them further in poverty. It would even make it harder for them to obtain jobs after the increase due to the increase of competition in the job market, and most importantly an increase in minimum wage would cause increase in the price level and it will reduce significantly consumption due to the lack of purchasing power that is cause by the higher inflation rate. The minimum wage should not increase because it is unsustainable economically. Another approach of help guide people out of poverty can be a push for an increase in education and knowledge capital instead of continuously increasing the minimum
