Discussion

Directions:

Read the following articles and answer the question:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/how-would-a-proposed-minimum-wage-increase-effect-marylands-economy/2013/01/25/f26b9aba-6657-11e2-85f5-a8a9228e55e7_story.html (Links to an external site.)

http://freakonomics.com/2011/11/18/does-raising-minimum-wage-increase-unemployment/ (Links to an external site.)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/03/06/286861541/does-raising-the-minimum-wage-kill-jobs (Links to an external site.)

Discussion Questions:

1) After reading these articles, explain your understanding of the relationship between minimum wage and unemployment. Make sure you explain the detailed affects of raising the minimum wage on unemployment and how it may affect the overall economy.

2) Washington State has one of the highest minimum wage level compared to other states in the nation. Given your understanding of the effects of minimum wage, would you make any changes to Washington State’s minimum wage? If yes, would you make it higher or lower? Why? If not, why not? I want you to consider the overall affects of a change or no change in the minimum wage on the entire economy and not just one sector of the population (eg. you shouldn’t just want higher minimum wage because you are currently making minimum wage at your job.)