1. Effects of Minimum Wage By: Jon Klem, Pete Krusing, & Seth Lillenberg

2. History of Minimum Wages Fair Labor Standards Act 1938 ▫Originally, 25 cents/hour ▫Currently at $7.25/hour  Though some variation in minimum wage among state exists ▫Ultimately, minimum wage has remained around 40-50% of the national average manufacturing wage

3. Effects on employment Allows employers to be selective Job training is reduced with increased wages “A loss of opportunity for the hardcore unemployed” –Jacob Mincer When wages increase, unemployment increases

4. Effect on teenagers

5. Studies on Minimum Wage New Jersey (1990) ▫Concluded that raising the minimum wage has a negligible effect on short-term employment Canada ▫Concluded that raising the minimum wage has a tremendous effect on long-term unemployment

6. Who benefits from minimum wage increases? Upper-middle class teenagers Unions