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What’s a fair wage?
August 2009 · Kristen Lopez Eastlick · Chico News and Review
Re “Fair wages help small businesses” (Guest Comment, by Kent Ross, July 30): The article ignores the wide range of industries that are disproportionately affected by mandated wage increases. Kent Ross’s assertions may be true for his bicycle shop, but they do not address the wage pressures felt by employers in labor-intensive industries (like the restaurant industry) where employees are needed at every level of operations. Salaries… -
A guide to minimum wage
August 2009 · Kristen Lopez Eastlick · Centre Daily Times
Calls for an even higher minimum wage, or living wage, are severely misguided (“Minimum wage still not enough,” July 29 editorial). Decades of economic research shows that mandated minimum-wage increases spike job losses, particularly among vulnerable groups such as teens, minorities and adults without a high-school diploma. This job loss is exacerbated in a weak economy. In fact, the vast majority of minimum- wage earners are teens… -
Unemployment sticks with teens
July 2009 · Kristen Lopez Eastlick · The Day
The article titled “Summer bummer: Teens can’t find jobs,” published July 14, acknowledged the high unemployment rate for teens, but failed to mention the negative long-term problems these skyrocketing unemployment rates cause for teens. A study out of Stanford University found that those who as youths experienced especially long periods of unemployment were particularly prone to negative long-term effects on future wages and employment. And research from… -
Pay hikes hurt workers
July 2009 · Kristen Lopez Eastlick · Lexington Herald Leader
In response to a June 23 letter, “EPI front for big biz”: it is often said that people are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. Most economists agree with the Employment Policies Institute that the unintended consequences of minimum wage hikes are much worse than the limited help they may provide. Studies show that a majority of minimum-wage workers helped by the increases… -
‘Feel good’ policies don’t spread the joy
July 2009 · Kristen Lopez Eastlick · Hattiesburg American
Federal politicians’ “feel-good” rhetoric merely reinforces policies that result in unemployment for entry-level workers, especially in a weak economy (“Minimum wage increase draws mixed reaction,” July 23). Decades of economic research predicted that there would be an increase in job losses following minimum wage hikes, particularly among vulnerable groups like minority teens and adults without a high school diploma. As a result of another federal wage hike,… -
Minimum wage hike felt more keenly in labor-intensive industries
July 2009 · Kristen Lopez Eastlick · Boston Globe
LAURY HAMMEL’S supportive claims about the minimum wage ignore the wide range of industries that are disproportionately affected by mandated wage increases (“Business owners support living wage,’’ Letters, July 14). Hammel’s assertions may be true for his fitness clubs (a capital-intensive operation structure), but they do not address the wage pressures felt by employers in labor-intensive industries where employees are needed at every level of operations. In…