30 Days on Minumum Wage

Today we discussed price floors-legal restrictions on how little may be changed/payed for a good or service..  Minimum wage is a great example of a price floor in our economy.  We know price floors cause harmful surpluses, but do they also do good for the most vulnerable people in our society? 


Watch the film:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTXmJ9-0Ic


Answer 1 of the following questions for class on Monday.  A 1-2 page response is adequate.


1. As you watch the film, keep a running list of challenges and hardships faced by minimum wage earners.  In a well-written response, identify three specific hardships and discuss how they were manifested in the movie.  Describe how these hardships impact the characters economically and/or socially.  How could these negative impacts be mitigated or avoided? 


2. The goal of the documentary was to provide insight into the lives of minimum wage workers.  To what extent do you think the film is realistic and accurate?  Cite specific examples from the film to discuss the ways in which the film was a real and accurate depiction of life making minimum wage.

 3. Some have argued that minimum wage today is a “broken” system and should be changed or done away with.  To what extent do you agree with this statement?  What changes could be made to minimum wage to make the system more effective.