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Friday, September 11, 2015

'The Intellectual History of the Minimum Wage and Overtime'

This is the conclusion to "The intellectual history of the minimum wage and overtime," by Oya Aktas:

...The intellectual history of maximum hours and minimum wages is a story of debates over which groups should be protected from exploitation and what form this protection should take. Concerns over women’s health, ambivalence toward African American rights, and advocating for unorganized workers dominated the debate at different points. As social views changed, so did economic policies. Today, women account for two-thirds of minimum wage earners and people of color account for two-fifths. Studying the history of the minimum wage should compel policymakers to question how social priorities influence different groups, who is considered worthy of protection, and to what extent their welfare is considered. By implementing effective maximum hour and minimum wage regulations, policymakers can protect vulnerable workers’ standard of living to encourage productivity, push companies to increase their efficiency, and consequently cultivate long-term equitable growth.

    Posted by on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 12:33 AM in Economics | Permalink  Comments (46)


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