DoesRaisingtheMinimumWageHelp the WorkingPoor?

Applicableconcepts:positiveandnormativeanalyses

 

In 1938, Congress enacted the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, commonly known as the “minimum-wage law.” Today, a minimum-wage worker who works full time still earns a deplorably low annual income. One approach to help the working poor earn a living wage might be to raise the minimum wage.

The dilemma for Congress is that a higher minimum wage for the employed is enacted at the expense of jobs for unskilled workers. Opponents forecast that the increased labor cost from a large minimum-wage hike would jeopardize hundreds of thousands of unskilled jobs. For example, employers may opt to purchase more capital and less expensive labor. The fear of such sizable job losses forces Congress to perform a difficult balancing act to ensure that a minimum-wage increase is large enough to help the working poor, but not so large as to threaten their jobs.

Some politicians claim that raising the minimum wage is a way to help the working poor without cost to taxpayers. Others believe the cost is hidden in inflation and lost employment opportunities for marginal workers, such as teenagers, the elderly, and minorities. One study by economists, for example, examined a national data set and reported evidence that minimum wage increases resulted in reduced employment and hours of work for low-wage workers.[1]

Another problem with raising the minimum wage to aid the working poor is that minimum wage is a blunt weapon for redistributing wealth. Studies show that only a small percentage of minimum-wage earners are full-time workers whose family income falls below the poverty line. This means that most increases in the minimum wage go to workers who are not poor. For example, many minimum-wage workers are students living at home or workers whose spouse earns a much higher income. To help only the working poor, some economists argue that the government should target only those who need assistance, rather than using the “shotgun” approach of raising the minimum wage.

Supporters of raising the minimum wage are not convinced by these arguments. They say it is outrageous that a worker can work full time and still live in poverty. Moreover, people on this side of the debate believe that opponents exaggerate the dangers to the economy from a higher minimum wage. For example, one could argue that a higher minimum wage will force employers to upgrade the skills and productivity of their workers. Increasing the minimum wage may therefore be a win-win proposition, rather than a win-lose proposition. Finally, across the United States, numerous localities have implemented living-wage laws, while dozens more are considering them.

 

 

ANALYZE the issue

Note that this assignment is worth more points than the other assignments, so it is very important that you complete it.

For this assignment, you are required to write a short essay (1 – 3 pages). It is strongly recommended that you go beyond the textbook and consider some of the elements that we discussed in class. For example, what evidence can you point to with respect to the experiences of countries beyond the USA? Properly cite any outside sources that you use (APA style). It is expected that you will write at a level appropriate for undergraduate students of economics. “Bullet point answers” will not be considered sufficient. Refer to the “Critical Thinking” grading rubric posted to the BlackBoard site, to understand how points will be awarded.

1. Identify two positive and two normative statements given above concerning raising the minimum wage. List other minimum-wage arguments not discussed above, and classify them as either positive or normative economics.

2. Give a positive and a normative argument why a business leader would oppose raising the minimum wage. Give a positive and a normative argument why a labor leader would favor raising the minimum wage.

3. Explain your position on this issue. Identify positive and normative reasons for your decision. Are there alternative ways to aid the working poor?

Discussion—Training Delivery Methods

There are various training delivery methods for effective on-the-job training (OJT) and team training. In this module, you are challenged with researching the strengths and weaknesses of training methods, including virtual classrooms, instructor-led classrooms, and online self-study training.

Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research training delivery methods. Then, respond to the following questions:

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of virtual classrooms, instructor-led classrooms, and online self-study training methods?
• When is each of these training methods appropriate, and how is this determined?
• What are some of the ethical considerations when selecting the delivery method of training topics?

You are welcome to answer these questions from the perspective of the trainee or the trainer. Do keep in mind the various learning styles that exist, including those for auditory learners, visual learners, and kinesthetic learners.

Submission Details:

• Write your response in 350–500 words. Follow APA guidelines for writing and citing text. All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for citing sources.
• By Saturday, November 21, 2015, post your response in the Discussion Area. Read and respond to the posts of at least two other students by the end of Wednesday, November 25, 2015.

Discussion Grading Criteria and Rubric

All discussion assignments in this course will be graded using a rubric. This assignment is worth 40 points. Download the discussion rubric and carefully read it to understand the expectations.

Think of a conflict you recently experienced (this can be work-related, in your personal life, or in any context that personally involved you).

Briefly explain the conflict and your response to it. Of the four possible conflict responses (passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive), which one did you use? What did this response look like?

Now, generate three additional possible responses using the other three types of conflict response. Explain how you believe each one would have affected the outcome of the conflict. Also, identify and evaluate what theory or theories are present in your example.

Provide justifications, in the form of research, for your decisions and include references to 3-4 credible sources outside of the course and its required readings/media. Consider searching for these sources in the CSU-Global Library.

 

 

Draft a word response to each of the bulleted questions below. Each question must have its own response and have a minimum of 50 words.

 

1. The reading on Statistics for Business mentions patterns and how we can create models once we have identified a pattern. How would you define a pattern? How would you define a model?
2. What are some examples of patterns do businesses take advantage of?
3. What are some measurements of variation that we can apply to numerical data?
4. With a Statistics for Business thought process, answer the following questions in 200-300 words.

   a) What is the difference between categorical and numerical (quantitative) data?

 

1. b) Suppose you’re preparing a survey to collect customer satisfaction data. Three of the questions in the survey are:

2. Gender (male / female)

   2. How satisfied are you with our service?

   Very satisfied / Satisfied / Not satisfied

   3. What is your Age Group (<25 / 25 – 40 / 41 – 65 / 65+)

   4. What is your Zip Code?

   Which questions would provide categorical data?

 

5. A categorical variable denotes the state of residence for customers to a Web site. Would you prefer to see a bar chart, a pie chart, or a frequency table? Would it be useful to combine some of the categories? Why?
6. StartupsThe Wall Street Journal (January 12, 2011) reported the results of a survey of reasons given by 18- 34-year-olds for not starting their own businesses. The 872 respondents gave the following reasons.

Reason	Percentage
Being unable to get a loan or credit	41%
Too much risk and uncertainty	31%
Not knowing how to run a business	19%
Lacking the skills to start and run a business	13%
No role models to show the way	12%

1. a) Would it be appropriate to show these percentages in a pie chart?
2. b) Do these responses define ordinal data?
3. c) What display would you recommend for showing these data?

 

7. What are the 5 values presented in the five-number summary of a box plot?

 

8. How do we calculate the upper quartile and what does it represent?

Assignment 2: Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing

In the Working Ahead section in Modules 1, 2, and 3, you were informed to collect items to be recycled and log a journal of these items. You were also instructed to select either Module 2 or Module 3 to collect these items.

Your assignment in this module is to submit your weeklong Recycling Journal, along with an analysis of your recycling efforts and an examination of the recycling process.

Be sure to examine what you have recycled in your chosen week and estimate how many grocery sacks of material you recycled—try to estimate the size. Results showing who recycled the most material will be posted by your facilitator in Module 5.

For this assignment, complete the following:

Part 1

Review your Recycling Journal for the week you selected. Write a report that covers the next two parts of this assignment.

Part 2

Based on what you identified as recyclable in one week and using this data, estimate how much garbage your entire locality or city could prevent sending to the landfill. Include the following:

• What is the total population of your community? You may use reliable Internet resources to identify this information.
• If everyone in your community recycled as much trash as you did for one week, how much garbage could your area recycle? To calculate this number, you can use your number and multiply it by the number of people in your community.
• How much trash could your community save in a year? To calculate this number, multiply the weekly estimate for your community by the number of weeks in a year.
• Do you think your community recycles enough? How can the US Government place more importance on recycling?

Part 3

Examine the process of recycling. Include the following:

• Explain how recycled material is reused.
• Describe what happens to recycled cans, bottles, and newspapers after they go to the recycling bin.
• Examine the impact you have on creating renewed resources from these recycled items.

1. What is the foundation of morals? In other words, what does the theory ‘utilitarianism’ claim?

2. What is Mill’s response to the objection that “utilitarianism is a doctrine worthy of swine?” (Hint: h has three response)

3. What problem for Mill’s theory does virtue pose?

4. Why are moderation, self-control and sober reflection not unconditinally good?

5. Why would someon

Go to NPR’s StoryCorps Website, located at http://www.npr.org/series/4516989/storycorps. Read two (2) articles that were published within the last two (2) months that focus on individuals with major adjustment issues.

Next, use the textbook and the Strayer Library to research evidence-based strategies to help with adjustment. Consider strategies that relate to stress and coping, gender, stages of life, cultural and social issues, and health.

When referencing the selected stories, please use this format:

• Standard Reference Format:
  • Title of the story [Audio file]. (Year, Month Day). Retrieved from website url.
    • Example:

A homeless teen finds solace in a teacher and a recording [Audio file]. (2014, March 7). Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2014/03/07/286921391/a-homeless-teen-finds-solace-in-a-teacher-and-a-recording.

• In-Text Citation Format:
  • The in-text citation for a selected story is an abbreviated version of the title and the year of publication. The abbreviation contains the first three words of the title.
    • Example:

(“A homeless teen,” 2014).

When referencing the textbook, please use this format:

• Standard Textbook Reference Format:
  • Author’s Name. (Date of publication). Title of the resource. Publisher information.
    • Example:

Santrock, J. (2006). Human adjustment: 2007 custom edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

• In-Text Citation Format:
  • The in-text citation for the textbook is the author’s last name and year of publication.
    • Example:

(Santrock, 2006).

Write a three to six (3-6) page paper in which you:

1. Summarize two (2) articles you selected from the NPR Website. The two (2) article must be from within the last two (2) months.
2. Describe the major adjustment issues discussed in each story.
3. Examine at least three (3) evidence-based strategies from each of the selected articles that could help the individuals in each article enhance their adjustment skills.
4. For each article, recommend the evidence-based strategy that is best suited for the people in the selected articles. Provide a rationale for your response.
5. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other similar websites do not qualify as academic resources. Each of your selected articles (2) is a source and your textbook should be used as a source. One additional academic source is required for a total of four (4) sources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required assignment page length.
• Include a reference page containing APA-formatted references for all sources used in your paper. The reference page is not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Identify contextual variables (e.g., culture) that impact psychological adjustment.
• Define stress, stressors, and coping strategies, and contemplate their relationship to health and wellness.
• Identify and describe social psychological phenomena.
• Describe adult relationships, lifestyles, and issues of parenting and longevity.
• Identify gender differences and explore gender role stereotypes.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in psychology.
• Write clearly and concisely about psychology using proper writing mechanics.