Jessica Martinez

Mrs. Ramirez

English Period 6

Nov 30 2023

Increase Of Minimum Wage

The minimum wage is not, it should increase. In a lot of states the minimum wage is not

much,they dont pay people enough to maintain themselves, and that's if they don't have any

children or family. The minimum wage of california in california is $15.50, which covers trinity

county where the living wage for one person with no other dependents. But that doesn't cover

Alameda county where the living wage for one person with no dependents is $22.35. These are

some examples why the minimum should rise. The increase of minimum wage would reduce

poverty. It would also fuel economic growth. Furthermore, it would address long standing racial

and gender inequalities. It would also lead to workers to higher productivity. The minimum wage

should increase, because it's hard to live off low paychecks in today's society.

There is information that shows that the increase of the minimum wage would reduce

poverty. “The bump from $290 a week would lift millions of families out of poverty, more than a

quarter of the workforce of 40 million workers would see a raise in wage”(politics of

poverty.oxfam america.org). You have to pay attention to what the information says. Because

why would they say this if it weren't true, why would they tell us lies.” Us workers would be

affected by an increase in the federal… hispanic workers would see the largest increase in

earnings and reductions in poverty”(rwjf.org) . So the increase in the minimum wage would help

out a lot, would benefit them and of course take them out of poverty. Furthermore, “CBO said

that families below the poverty line under current law would see at 5.2% average increase of

income…”(cnn.com). So the information is pretty informative and tells us the honest truth, so
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Mrs. Ramirez

English Period 6

Nov 30 2023

other people are informed and know more about this topic. The evidence shows that the increase

of the minimum wage would reduce poverty, due to them getting more money, winning more.

Many claim that the increase of minimum wage will fuel economic growth.

“Economists… putting money in people's pockets for customer spending has positive ripple

effects… entire for consumer spending has positive ripple effects in the entire economy”(politics

of poverty.oxfam america.org). When there is information that the minimum wage will fuel

economic growth you shouldn't doubt what they are telling you. You should instead research

more about it. If you have doubts about it. An Increase of the minimum wage would increase

Gross Domestic Product. People would spend more if they got more money. So it's a win-win for

everyone. Therefore they should make it happen, increase the minimum wage. ”Research

demonstrates that the minimum wage increases have a particular…. on households real spending

on food, ect…”(american progress.org). It's a fact that when people get paid more they spend

more, on everything in general. And provide more to the Gross Domestic Product. With all the

information said it's hard to deny that the increase of the minimum wage will fuel iconic growth.

There are statistics that show the increase on wages would address long standing racial

and gender inequalities. People that would benefit from the raise would be “34 percent of black

and latina women… and 32 percent of women workers would benefit from this. Due to the racial

and gender inequality in their workplace (PoliticsOfPoverty.oxfam america.org). We should be

kept informed about this because a lot of people don't believe it happens. But it does, people just

don't pay attention to see it or don't care. “Black women would have earned about 66 cents for

every dollar earned by white, non hispanic men compared to 62 cents per dollar without a $15
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Mrs. Ramirez

English Period 6

Nov 30 2023

minimum wage”(american progress.org). The evidence is here African Americans get paid less

than the average white person. You've heard it all before.” Black workers are 50 percent more

likely than white workers to experience …. Wage theft… Latinx 84 percent more likely”. There

is history that goes back to this topic. You can search for it if you’d like . The evidence shown

here would address long standing racial and gender inequalities that still happen to this day.

Many claim that the increase of the minimum wage would lead to higher productivity.

Studies have found that employees' morale and work ethic increases when employees believe

they are paid a fair wage. (democrats-edworkforce.house.gov) When there's studies done by

people you shouldnt discount their findings. Studies usually tell the truth about a certain thing or

topic. To continue,”Employees work harder per hour when they sell more goods, 4.5 percent

more.(kellogg.northwestern.edu). If employees are paid so little, do you think they'll put their

whole effort at work? I think not, because they won't be earning enough for anything, so they

won't be encouraged to do so. Like I said before “ Workers become more productive and are

terminated less often after a minimum wage increase".(Journals.uchicago.edu) People are more

productive when they are paid more , they are more encouraged to do a good job. But most of the

time, the increase of the minimum wage doesn't happen fast enough. With all the information

I've given you, you can't deny the truth or all the information I'm giving you.

To conclude , the increase of the minimum wage would help and benefit a lot of people

for the better. It would help people like the employee and the employer. So therefore in my

opinion they should increase the minimum wage, because people getting paid so little does not

benefit them in any way. Especially in today's economy and society. And not getting paid enough
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Mrs. Ramirez

English Period 6

Nov 30 2023

does not help getting out of the struggle. Therefore the minimum wage increased it would reduce

poverty and would get people out of the suburbs. And more people would live a happy and good

life without living in danger and struggle. It would also fuel economic growth. It would increase

sales, people would be getting more money, and that would help the economy their spending.To

continue it would address long standing racial and gender inequalities, that should be known to

inform people of the disadvantages that people go through. And lastly it would lead to higher

productivity. This is true because when people get paid enghout money, they are more motivated

to do a good job during their working hours, since they will do anything to get that money. They

should increase the minimum wage because it's hard to live off low paychecks right now in this

society and economy.Here is a famous quote from our ex president Barack Obama. “If you truly

live you could work a fulltime job and support a family on less than 15,000 a year, go try it”

(Barack Obama)

Work Cited
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Mrs. Ramirez

English Period 6

Nov 30 2023

1. “6 Simple Reasons We Should Raise the Minimum Wage Right Now.” Oxfam,

politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/6-simple-reasons-we-should-raise-the-minimum-wag

e/. Accessed 01 Dec. 2023.

2. “Exploring the Effects of a $15 an Hour Federal Minimum Wage on Poverty, Earnings,

and Net Family Resources.” RWJF,

www.rwjf.org/en/insights/our-research/2022/08/exploring-the-effects-of-a-15-an-hour-fed

eral-minimum-wage-on-poverty-earnings-and-net-family-resources.html#:~:text=Conclu

sion,families%20who%20need%20it%20most. Accessed 01 Dec. 2023.

3. .“CNN’s Facts First Searchable Database.” CNN, Cable News Network,

www.cnn.com/factsfirst/politics/factcheck_7e5bc7fa-1a5a-4c29-958f-53a07ac1b9ab.

Accessed 01 Dec. 2023.

4. .democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/imo/media/doc/FactSheet-RaisingTheMinimumWage

IsGoodForWorkers,Businesses,andTheEconomy-FINAL.pdf. Accessed 01 Dec. 2023.

5. Roberts, Lily, and Ben Olinsky. “Raising the Minimum Wage Would Boost an Economic

Recovery-and Reduce Taxpayer Subsidization of Low-Wage Work.” Center for American

Progress, 2021,
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www.americanprogress.org/article/raising-minimum-wage-boost-economic-recovery-red

uce-taxpayer-subsidization-low-wage-work/. Accessed 01 Dec. 2023.

6. Khattar, Rose, et al. “Raising the Minimum Wage Would Be an Investment in Growing

the Middle Class.” Center for American Progress, 20 July 2023,

7. www.americanprogress.org/article/raising-the-minimum-wage-would-be-an-investment-i

n-growing-the-middle-class/#:~:text=If%20a%20%2415%20minimum%20wage%20had

%20taken%20effect%20in%202021,in%20the%20gap%20from%202020. Accessed 01

Dec. 2023.

8. “Why Minimum Wages Are a Critical Tool for Achieving Racial Justice in the U.S.

Labor Market.” Equitable Growth, 29 Oct. 2020,

equitablegrowth.org/why-minimum-wages-are-a-critical-tool-for-achieving-racial-justice-

in-the-u-s-labor-market/. Accessed 01 Dec. 2023.

9. Coviello, Decio, et al. Journal of Political Economy, vol. 130, no. 9, 1 Sept. 2022, pp.

2315–2360, doi:10.1086/720397.