Minimum wage in the United States

“Merriam-Webster defines minimum wage as “a wage fixed by legal authority” or by contract the least that may be paid either to employed people generally or to a particular category of employed persons” (Richason IV 1). Recently, President Barack Obama raised the minimum wage for all federal contractors to $10.10 per hour and called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage for all employed people; advocates in states as diverse as Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Dakota have…

The Democratic party supports the minimum wage being raised, same-sex marriage, stricter gun laws, and migration into the United States legally. Democrats believe that the current minimum wage is a starvation wage and must be increased to a living wage. Raising the minimum wage would benefit the people who are under the poverty line. If a person makes $15,000 a year before taxes, that person will end up under the poverty line after taxes. Raising the minimum wage would fill in the “hole” in the…

Raising the Minimum Wage for the Working Poor It’s nearly impossible to turn on the news or read the newspaper without hearing about the ongoing debate over minimum wage. While most Americans agree that persons working full-time should not be living in poverty there is little agreement about what to do about it. Supporters, including the Fight for Fifteen group, argue that larger paychecks to workers will boost the economy, higher pay will equate to harder working employees, and that all…

Currently, the citizens of the United States of America are engaged in a heated debate over the federal minimum wage. As of September 16, 2016, the federal minimum wage is set at seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour. Advocates of increasing the minimum wage argue that the present minimum wage does not supply enough income to cover everyday living expenses. As stated by Carey, “many working adults must seek public assistance and/or hold multiple jobs in order to afford to feed, clothe,…

In the United States of America, every state has its own minimum wage law. The federal minimum wage law for every state is $7.25 an hour. From time to time, states will reevaluate their minimum wage. Some states may go higher and other will remain constant. Many hard working people are unable to survive at their states minimum wage. For several reasons the minimum wage for all states should be raised. The minimum wage law exists to protect Americans against unfair pay rates. If the rate they…

Max Canfield Ms. Boesiger Economics 2 November 25, 2014 Is minimum wage a living wage? Raising the minimum wage would put the money in the hands of the engine that powers the economy; this allows local businesses to thrive and lets people live comfortably above the poverty line. Minimum wage is defined as the lowest wage permitted by law or by a special agreement while a living wage is defined as a wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living. These two definitions are the…

public policy research organization, states “Some policymakers are proposing to raise the minimum wage, but that policy would be harmful. Research shows businesses would respond to the increased costs by reducing employment, particularly for low-skilled workers” (CATO). Basically saying this minimum wage will not help anyone, and it will do nothing but damage. I disagree there’s a lot more evidence I found which tells you otherwise. I’m not sure what the minimum wage should be raised to but I…

2009, the minimum wage income remains unchanged and the legislation in the United States (US) is not uniformed; which creates wage imbalances across the country and the minimum wage earners are held in a quandary. (Addison et al, 2013) Under the current legislation, various industries and several states are exempt from the minimum wage laws; which impedes the workforce from earning more income. (DOL, 2016) Individuals employed in certain industries exempt from the current minimum wage laws, such…

Minimum wage is the least amount of money one can legally work for per hour. It has been in action since 1938 when the first federal minimum wage was set at twenty-five cents (Kertz, n.p). This was proposed by President Franklin Roosevelt following the Great Depression. Minimum wage is a very controversial topic and people have been debating on whether it should be increased or remain the same. It should be increased from $7.25 to a more livable wage. It should increase because $7.25 is not a…

Minimum wage has been one of the most contentious battles in economic policy in the United States. In 1938, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt introduced the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA was established to give workers fair workplace rights, including the introduction of the federal minimum wage. Today, minimum wage is very debatable as to whether an increase would benefit or do harm to the United States. There is a plethora of research to the controversial issue of minimum wage…