The Argument Against Raising Minimum Wage - 952 Words

Paying for a college education creates a dilemma when a student only earns minimum wage flipping burgers at a local fast food restaurant. The current federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 per hour before taxes. The debate on whether it should increase or remain constant has been occurring for many years. Raising the minimum wage to match the current cost of living seems like a good idea, but this could cause some negative effects. John Komlos’ article â€Å"Why raising the minimum wage is good economics† delivers a more effective argument than Rex Huppke’s article â€Å"The argument against raising minimum wage† through the use of ethos, logos, and a valid conclusion. To start with, ethos constitutes the first element of comparison between the articles. Beginning in â€Å"Why raising the minimum wage is good economics,† Komlos includes The Economist, a â€Å"weekly international news and business publication† to increase his credibility on thi s topic (The Economist, n.d., para. 1). Second, Komlos’ (2015) article contains â€Å"Alan Kruegar of Princeton University† (para. 7). One may not know Alan Kruegar, however reading Princeton University immediately catches the eye and gives Komlos more credibility. Additionally, Komlos supplies a synopsis about himself at the end of the article which allows the reader to see that he â€Å"is a professor emeritus of economics and of economic history at the University of Munich† (para. 14). In â€Å"The argument against raising minimum wage,† Huppke introduces fourShow MoreRelatedRaising The Minimum Wage?1575 Words   |  7 PagesThe issue of raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour is a heavily debated topic. Both sources against or in favor of the minimum wage refer to a â€Å"growing gap† between low-income workers and high-income earners. Sources against the minimum wage believe raising it will increase this gap, whereas those in favor of the minimum wage believe it will decrease this gap. The arguments in favor of the minimum wage rely mostly on ethical beliefs, such as â€Å"pay should reflect hard work,† to advanceRead MoreMinimum Wage During The Great Depression1419 Words   |  6 PagesThe Minimum Wage Battle In the United States, the minimum wage was passed during the Great Depression in 1938 to protect the buying power of normal workers in a period in which the â€Å"unemployment rate was still a very high 19 percent† (Sklar, 2009, p. 1). Since that time, there has been significant debate about the controversial topic of raising the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage law was created to eliminate unfair practices of sweat shops and manufacturing companies during this timeRead MoreShould the Federal Minimum Wage Be Raised?900 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States is complicating whether or not our nation should raise the federal minimum wage. Ranging from researchers who have been studying this incompatible topic throughout their entire lives to amateurs who simply expose their opinions without any logical reasoning to the public are still not able to come to an agreement for a stable minimum wage. Many citizens may assume that increasing the minimum wage, $7.25, an hour, by a couple dollars may not make a significant impact to our economyRead MoreMinimum Wage And Fight Income Equality On Numerous Occasions1470 Words   |  6 PagesPresident Obama has expressed his desire to raise the minimum wage and fight income equality on numerous occasions. On January 20, 2015, president Obama made the following statement in his State of the Union Address: Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages†¦and to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: if you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to giveRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Act Of 20071607 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction In 1938, the first national minimum wage laws in the United States were passed as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which served as â€Å"a floor below wages,† to reduce poverty and to ensure that economic growth is shared across the workforce. Today, many people who work for companies that pay at or near the minimum wage and remain near or below the poverty level rely on government health and food security and income programs to supplementRead More We Should NOT Raise the Minimum Wage1171 Words   |  5 Pages What would be so bad about raising minimum wage? Before other states jump on the $15 minimum-wage bandwagon, they might want to look at whats happening in Massachusetts — one of two states with a $10-an-hour minimum wage. Massachusetts increased the minimum wage from $8 to $9 at the start of 2015 and to $10 on the first day of 2016. The state is now mired in its longest stretch of net job losses since the recession in both the retail and the leisur e and hospitality sectors, Labor DepartmentRead MoreMcdonald s And The Minimum Wage993 Words   |  4 PagesMCDONALD’S AND THE MINIMUM WAGE Introduction Minimum wage has always been, and will probably always be, a controversial topic. Some believe raising the minimum wage is the solution to poverty, while others believe that raising the minimum wage is a recipe for â€Å"killing† jobs. This age old debate has come to the forefront recently as the â€Å"Fight for $15† by fast-food workers continues to grow. The campaign’s core argument is that the billion-dollar companies in the fast-food industry can afford toRead MoreShould We Increase Minimum Wage?1508 Words   |  6 PagesThe topic on whether the minimum wage should be increased our untouched has been a hot topic in the media and political scene lately. Both the republicans and democrats have spent some big bucks lobbying their insights on the matter. There has been a lot of subjective and objective arguments that are reasonable on both the pros and cons of increasing our national minimum wage. To add to the drama associated with this topic, President Obama endorsed a bill proposing a nearly 40% rise from $7.25 toRead MoreCongress Should Raise The Federal Minimum Wage1042 Words   |  5 PagesMany Americans agree that Congress should raise the federal minimum wage, but do individuals truly know the effects of increasing the minimum wage to $15? Some people only look at the comprehensive view of seeking a higher salary, but the increase can cause many negative, as well as positive, effects. Several economists from across the country have done extensive research over the topic of the minimum wage increase, and many differing opinions have formed. The effects can vary from person to personRead MoreThe Debate Over The Minimum Wage Debate1737 Words   |  7 Pagesduring Carnegie’s time and would mark the very beginning of long and difficult process to achieve worker’s rights that still continue to this day. The minimum wage debate is without a doubt part of these negotiations and has taken the spotlight in recent years. T here are two sides to the minimum wage debate: the employees fighting for higher wages who would like to earn enough to keep food on the table for their family, and the employer who is doing what they can to keep costs low and ensure that