Persuasive Essay On Minimum Wage Laws

The minimum wage law has been a part of the United States of America’s society for many years. The common, economically ignorant citizens generally accept the minimum wage as a helpful law that supports the lower, less fortunate end of America’s labor force. However, this “lovable” law that supposedly helps the poor is actually a political scheme that does the exact opposite. Because the minimum wage law forces companies to pay much more than they should per employee, companies logically and simply do not hire as many people as they would otherwise. While, of course, a few lucky employees are able to enjoy a higher wage, many willing could-be employees are not able to find jobs as a result; in other words, the minimum wage creates unemployment in poorer communities (Rothbard). One sensible person might ask, “Why is the minimum wage still being enforced today even though it is such a horrible law?” This perceptive question leads to a disappointing answer; the people that actively support the minimum wage act because of politics or simply economic ignorance. A minimum wage that derails the less affluent can positively affect those with larger wages and those in power. Therefore, the minimum wage is often used as a scheme for political and personal gain, despite the great amount of hurt that it causes to others (Vuk). In order to avoid unfair political advancements and unemployment to those who need it, the minimum wage should be outright eliminated; the market would work its own way through finding the right price to pay low-level employees. The minimum wage is often used in basic microeconomic courses as an example to explain relatively simple economic theories. Obviously, the fact that the minimum... ... middle of paper ... ...led workers rather than unskilled workers. As technology and other laborsaving methods increase, so will the number of skilled workers needed during times under the minimum wage (Dorn 1). It is important to notice that most labor unions consist of all skilled workers! So in a way, a few skilled labor unionists could be in direct competition against many unskilled workers. By pricing the unskilled workers out of the market, skilled workers win in the end (Block 231). All in all, the minimum wage poses many problems and creates unnecessary complications in society. It contradicts free market values and prices out unskilled or inexperienced workers by forcing employers to look for workers with higher productivities. The existence of the minimum wage is full of irony, contradictions, ignorance, and foolishness and should be destroyed as soon as possible.