Raising the minimum wage.The federal minimum wage has been the focus of intense debate ever since its inception during the Depression, in 1938. That year, the minimum wage was set at 25 cents an hour. It has been raised 19 times since, over the objections of opponents who say that higher minimums hurt job creation, especially for the young and unskilled. Since the last hike in the federal minimum wage, in 1997, repeated attempts to raise it further have been defeated in Congress. The most recent defeat was last October October: see month. . However, 17 states and the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). have opted to raise their minimum wages above that of the federal government. The graph at the right shows the minimum wage in each of those jurisdictions. This graph shows the difference between the federal minimum wage and the minimum wage in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Use the data to anwer the questions below. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANALYZE THE GRAPH 1. In January January: see month. , Hawaii's minimum wage was increased by 8 percent above its 2005 level. What was Hawaii's minimum wage in 2005? (a) $6.25 (b) $6.30 (c) $6.20 (d) $6.35 2. Assume a 4g-hour workweek for art questions. How much more a week would a minimum-wage worker in Illinois Illinois, river, United States Illinois, river, 273 mi (439 km) long, formed by the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee rivers, NE Ill., and flowing SW to the Mississippi at Grafton, Ill. It is an important commercial and recreational waterway. earn each week than a minimum-wage worker in New Jersey? $-- 3. Most workers earn much more than the minimum wage. How much would a store clerk in Oregon Oregon, city, United States Oregon, city (1990 pop. 18,334), Lucas co., NW Ohio, a suburb adjacent to Toledo, on Lake Erie; inc. 1958. It is a port with railroad-owned and -operated docks. The city has industries producing oil, chemicals, and metal products. earn each week if her salary was 25 percent above that state's minimum wage? (a) $390.00 (b) $405.00 (c) $385.00 (d) $375.00 4. The federal minimum for teens is 90 cents an hour less for the first 90 days on the job than the regular minimum wage. What is the teen minimum wage? $-- 5. In 2005, the poverty line for a three-person family in Alaska was $20,110. How much below that line would such a family be if they earned Alaska's minimum wage? $-- 6. The buying power Buying Power The money an investor has available to buy securities. In a margin account, the buying power is the total cash held in the brokerage account plus maximum margin available. Also referred to as "Excess Equity. of the minimum wage differs from place to place because of differences in the cost of living. For example, the cost of living in Wilmington, Del., is 6 percent higher than in Bangor, Maine For other places with the same name, see Bangor. Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, MaineGR6, United States. It is the major commercial center for eastern and northern Maine. For U.S. . But Maine's minimum wage is $--a year higher than Delaware's. EXTRA CREDIT > Use this information to write a brief essay about the minimum wage. ANSWER KEY 1. [a] $6.25 2. $14.00 3. [d] $375 4. $4.25 5. $5,238 6. $728 |
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