Raising Minimum Wage Research Paper

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Pages: 4

The minimum wage is the minimum amount of money an employer is required to pay their employees for their work at a given time. The minimum wage was established in 1938 to protect workers in the labor force and to stabilize the post-depression economy. The last time Congress raised the federal minimum wage from $7.25 was in July of 2009. This is the longest period without a nationwide increase since the minimum wage was established in 1938. Raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 is a very controversial topic in today’s society. Some believe raising it will help stabilize the economy, while some believe it will hurt the economy. Supporters argue that raising the minimum wage will give more money to low-income families, which will help stimulate …show more content…
When the minimum wage is increased, low-wage workers will receive a higher income for their work, which leads to them bringing home more spending money. This extra money can be used on necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “raising the minimum wage to $17 would deliver an extra $3,200 annually to full-time African American workers” (pg.16). People of color make up a huge fraction of workers who are in poverty, and raising the minimum wage will not only push them above the poverty line, but it will also narrow the racial pay gap. Raising the minimum wage is critical and beneficial to all underprivileged families who work full-time jobs. Raising the minimum wage can significantly boost economic growth by increasing consumer spending and saving on government expenditures. Since households will have an increase in income, they will be able to spend more money on goods and services. This increase in spending will lead to businesses experiencing higher sales and earning more money. As these businesses experience higher demand, they will hire more employees to keep up with the customer's needs. According to Rose Khattar from American Progress, “Raising