Abstract This paper shows that there are both pros and cons to raisingminimumwage, but ultimately, raising the minimumwage in this country will only make it more difficult for those that still struggle to get by. The paper begins with historical information about minimumwage and then moves on to the pros and cons of raising it. The summary and conclusion explain the reasons that minimumwage should not be raised and indicate that there must be some other way to help individuals in this country who are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table.
From the Paper "Historically, minimum wage has been through a great many changes. It is designed to be the lowest wage that an industry can legally pay in the United States (Minimum, 2004). Minimum wage was originally established to ensure that all individuals could have a standard of living that would provide them with a reasonable amount of health and decency. There have been many ways in the past that minimum wage has been changed. These include collective bargaining from labor unions, by board action, by arbitration, and by legislation (Minimum, 2004). Almost all countries have a minimum wage and originally in the United States minimum wage laws were believed to be unconstitutional."
Abstract The paper discusses the minimumwage legislation and sheds light on arguments against and in favor of this important law. We need to understand that the minimumwage law is not supported by all sections of the society,and that some believe it leads to unemployment and inflation. But the proponents of the legislation feel that it increases productivity and consumer spending which are essential for the positive growth of the economy.
Abstract This paper is an open letter to the United States Congress in regard to plans to potentially increase the federal minimumwage in order to combat poverty. The author argues that any such bills should be endorsed because they are in the long-term interests of the working poor. Increases in the federal minimumwage will have the effect of alleviating poverty in the United States.
From the Paper "The issue of whether or to increase the federal minimum wage is a significant one. The debate has become highly politicized, with proponents and opponents staunchly allied along nearly unbreakable partisan lines. Given the political nature of the debate, it can be difficult to determine the best course of action. Should the federal minimum wage be increased or not? That is the basic question. The answer to that question must be determined upon what one hopes to accomplish by voting one way or the other. If one's interest is in maintaining the stranglehold that corporate interests have on the American working poor through wage slavery, then obviously you should vote against any increases in the federal minimum wage."
Abstract The paper presents an argument for raisingminimumwage increases in higher increments so that inflation does not erode living standards. The paper gives a background and history of the minimumwage explaining the original objective of the minimumwage compared to its current objective. A graph is provided showing the increase in minimumwage since its inception. Arguments are given for and against minimumwage laws. The paper also compares minimumwages in the United States with those in Canada showing how the law affects women and workers in the two countries. The paper discusses whether the minimumwage is appropriate for the future economy.
From the Paper "Minimum wage is the lowest hourly salary that an employer is allowed to pay an employee for services rendered. The Federal Labor board sets the minimum hourly labor rates. The lowest hourly rates are decided by a *collective bargaining, an arbitration and a board action legislation. Minimum wage laws were passed to ensure that employees are reasonably compensated."
Tags: Economy, workers, living, standards, cost, living
Abstract The paper discusses how the Senate recently voted down a bill that would have raisedminimumwage but would have also lowered estate taxes. The paper examines how, by linking two oppositional tax-related issues, the bill, H.R.5970, polarized the Senate along party lines. The paper explores how an estate tax cut favors the wealthiest Americans who own multi-million dollar estates, whereas the minimumwage hike would directly affect the working poor. The paper concludes that most of the Senate's Republicans favored the bill because of the estate tax cut implications, whereas most Democrats would have favored the bill only if it focused exclusively on raising the minimumwage.
From the Paper "Democrats oppose an estate tax cut in part for the same reasons they favor a minimum wage increase. Estate tax revenues can potentially be huge: capital gains taxes currently run about 15%. Yet only the wealthiest Americans benefit from estate tax cuts and Americans who would qualify are in the vast minority. The vast majority of Americans, on the other hand, might benefit from an increase in minimum wages. Only the tiniest percentage of Americans own multi-million dollar estates while a substantial portion of Americans earn close to the minimum wage."
Abstract This paper discusses how an increase in the Canadian minimumwage to $10 an hour would be controversial as has been every increase in minimumwage since the first introduction of legislation in support of a minimumwage in Canada in 1918. This essay presents arguments both for and against raising the minimumwage to $10 an hour in Canada as a national standard. The paper shows how such an action will have some negative impact upon the Canadian economy in that it will increase labour costs and, as a result, may somewhat increase inflationary pressures.
Abstract This paper discusses how debate over increases to the minimumwage in Canada has been a commonplace since introduction of the Fair Wages Policy in the House of Commons in 1900. All provinces and territories in Canada have introduced minimumwage legislation and there is no national minimumwage standard across the country. Instead federal legislation generally reinforces provincial legislation in minimumwage. There exist wide differences in minimumwage legislation and levels between different provinces and even within the same province reflecting varying costs of living employment levels and even different legal traditions across the country.
Abstract This paper examines the public policy implications of minimumwage laws and to a lesser extent living-wage laws (with the understanding that the two are philosophically linked to each other). The author writes, for those of us just now entering the labor force, it would be unthinkable to contemplate the working world without the presence of a minimumwage law. The paper provides a brief history of labor law and public policy in the United States. The paper includes graphs and charts.
From the Paper "The minimum wage does not seem to be one of those causes over which people become sufficiently impassioned to protest in the streets. But that is in large measure only because when people are protesting in the streets they tend to call for economic fairness or distributive justice, and both of these concepts are connected to the idea of a minimum wage or its newer and more radical cousin, the living wage."
Abstract This paper discusses when and how minimumwage should be increased for employees. It looks at the history of minimumwage increases and then discusses the benefits and difficulties of wage increases for employers. The paper also looks at whether the minimumwage has finally reached an acceptable level which can now be deemed a livable wage or whether an increase in wages is necessary.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Doubled MinimumWage Results
Market Demand Curve
Company Affects
Conclusion
From the Paper "Unfortunately when wage rates rise it must be performed across all employees within a company. This will result in a significant outlay for any corporation when raises are given or wage rates change. When such changes occur there is a significant change in the lowest hourly rate which will eventually follow through to other positions including those occupied by the skilled labor forces (Edwards 10). When such increases occur margin levels must also increase in order to support such increases in the corporate salary expenses. However when such increases occur, it is inevitable that the same number of employees will continue to populate the company as what did prior to the wage increases. The fact is that wage is usually not directly proportionally to increases in margin. The aggregate unemployment rate has varied between 4% and 8% over a period of 20 years (Overall Unemployment Rate in the Civilian Labor Force). However, the numbers of employees in the skilled labor force have increase by a significant number of employees."
Abstract This paper discusses the hotly debated validity of raising the minimumwage. Specifically, the paper looks at how experts on both sides cannot agree on the real effects that raises in the minimumwage have had or will have in the future, on managerial decision making. For the most part the consensus among economists is that it will either create a wash for the employee or hurt the employee, and that it will have at least some effect on managerial decisions, including such things as reducing non-cash benefits, increasing work loads to match new labor costs or reducing the number of new hires that occur. Furthermore, the paper states that the question of Kansas is even more marginal, as the adoption of such a wage increase will likely severely change the face of small business decisions in the state.
From the Paper "Employment of entry level workers is an essential aspect of economic growth, especially in small businesses as they comprise a majority of businesses and hire a significant portion of entry level workers. Any real reduction in entry level employment, especially among people who are likely to need experience, but are frequently still in a position of being sheltered by family, such as the lowest age group noted here, will severely hinder their ability to move forward as members of a growing economy and may delay independence and even college attendance. More vulnerable individuals in this demographic, those not being sheltered by family still, are likely to then become lost in a system that does not offer comprehensive unemployment insurance to wage earners that have not paid enough into the system yet. Another researcher would like to point out the particular vulnerability of the disabled worker, as if cost-benefit ratios are the exclusive tool for deciding who to hire for an entry level job those with the perceived lowest level of production abilities, i.e. the disabled will be less likely to obtain work. (Lehmann, 2006, p. 50) These people, including young adults, teenagers the disabled and minorities are then relegated to become not only the working poor as they were before but are now in a position to have to ask for even more help elsewhere, such as welfare, a system that has also been severly reduced in the last few years with reforms. (Lehmann, 2006, p. 50) (Burkhauser, Couch & Wittenburg, 2000, p. 16)"
Tags: effects, kansas, debate, benefits, change, business
Abstract This paper explains that an increase in the statutory minimumwage in the U.K. will not affect significantly the rate of employment or inflation but rather might help reduce the extent of low rates of pay; however, a raise would do little to provide living wages for U.K. workers. The author points out that the factors which will determine the effects of an increase in statutory pay on the economy are (1) the number of people or workers entitled to a pay increase, (2) the types of pay that might be included in the statutory regulations, (3) the hours of work the national minimumwage will assess, (4) the record requirements employers need to keep and (5) the extent to which the statutory minimumwage is enforced. The paper states that the theory that a statutory minimumwage would increase unemployment has not been grounded in much empirical evidence.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Expected Effects and Theory
Conclusions
From the Paper "Other theories including those of social economists suggest that wage setting should be based on "workers needs or socially defined levels of subsistence" (Figart, 2004, p. 3). This suggests that wage levels should be set at a point that allows consumers and employees access to the services and supplies they need to support their families and themselves. Along this line of thinking, the national statutory minimum wage should impose a positive effect, provided it climbs to the point where workers are receiving a sustainable living wage."
Abstract This paper examines the contraversy surrounding the minimumwage which was implemented in 1938 when Theodore Roosevelt enacted the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to protect those who were being abused by the system. It provides a breakdown of the arguments for and against minimumwage increases such as that raising the minimumwage simply cuts off and eliminates low-paying jobs. It concludes with a discussion of the effect of the minimumwage on the economy and labor markets and a look to the future.
From the Paper "As stated in an earlier statistic, a person working full time does not make enough to live. Indeed full-time wages fall well below the poverty line. This issue correlate with welfare. The question often arises among those who are on welfare as to why they should work when working equates to a cut in pay. When people make more money on welfare which is designed to help those who are at the bottom of the economic barrel, it's obvious that minimum wage increases are not only important, but essential to the well being of the nation and the nation's economy."
An analysis of the trends that have been observed regarding the effect of minimumwage in Canada, particularly within the hotel and restaurant business.
Abstract This paper discusses the effects and implications of paying minimumwage to employees within hotel and restaurant businesses in British Columbia. It looks at some of the notable trends that have been observed on the effect of minimumwage in Canada. The paper also discusses the increasing pressure for the government to raise the current minimumwage level.
From the Paper "An interesting trend currently recognizable in BC and other Canadian provinces is the globalization of the hotel industry. For example, many British Columbian hotels are owned by transnational chains. These chains typically pay Canadian workers such as housekeepers, laundry workers and dishwashers a minimum wage, not enough for full time workers "to keep a family of three above the poverty line" (deGroot-Maggetti). Minimum wage workers, often new immigrants, typically have little chance of promotion within the industry (ibid). No wonder the hospitality industry is marked by a "high turnover" (ibid). The low-cost/low-added value approach of Canadian hotels and restaurants to their employees is responsible for maintaining an industry of low-skill/low-wage workers who become quickly dissatisfied with their jobs. With a raise in the minimum wage, at least there would be an incentive for such workers to remain in the industry longer."
Abstract This paper gives a brief history of the minimumwage laws in the United States and attempts to show that minimumraise increases benefit more than just the lower-class society in America.
From the Paper "In addition, much of the working poor were falling well below the poverty line, and even the middle class were beginning to lose economic ground. By 1936, the Public Contracts act allotted for a minimum wage provision in all federal contracts (Illinois Labor History Society, 24). Several states had also attempted to follow Massachusetts's lead, and enact their own minimum wage laws, but were met with Supreme Court opposition until a ruling in 1937 (Relave, 2)."
Abstract This paper looks at a variety of aspects regarding minimumwage. It looks at the laws enacted, the rates set, and exceptions to minimumwage laws. The deterioration of the buying power of minimumwage is addressed, and statistical evidence of this deterioration is provided. Also included is an account of the economic impact of minimumwages.
Brief History of MinimumWage United States MinimumWage MinimumWages Economic Impact
Different States MinimumWages
From the Paper "The minimum wage as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in the year 1938. The first minimum wage was .25 per hour. However, it has increased over the decades with now as current federal minimum wage $5.15 per hour. But even with the increases, the Coalition on Human Needs has observed that the buying power of the federal minimum wage has deteriorated by almost twenty five percent over the last twenty years (about.com)."
