A student is writing an argument to support the claim that increasing the federal minimum wage would help the economy.

Question

Which point aligns with this argument and should be included in the argument’s concluding statement? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

The first federal minimum wage was set at 35¢ per hour during the Great Depression and has been increased 22 times.
The first federal minimum wage was set at 35¢ per hour during the Great Depression and has been increased 22 times.

Nearly a million people who currently live below the poverty line work full-time and earn the federal minimum wage.
Nearly a million people who currently live below the poverty line work full-time and earn the federal minimum wage.

A leading think tank has stated that raising the minimum wage by $3 an hour will create more than 80,000 new jobs.
A leading think tank has stated that raising the minimum wage by $3 an hour will create more than 80,000 new jobs.

Studies have shown that the majority of people earning minimum wage are part-time workers who have other means of support.
Studies have shown that the majority of people earning minimum wage are part-time workers who have other means of support.

If employers were required to pay their employees more, that cost would be passed on to the consumer through higher prices.

Answer 1

The two points that align with the argument that increasing the federal minimum wage would help the economy and should be included in the concluding statement are:

1. Nearly a million people who currently live below the poverty line work full-time and earn the federal minimum wage. - This point underscores the need for an increase in the minimum wage for those who are struggling financially and would benefit from higher earnings.

2. A leading think tank has stated that raising the minimum wage by $3 an hour will create more than 80,000 new jobs. - This point highlights the potential positive economic impact of raising the minimum wage, suggesting that it could lead to job creation, thereby benefiting the economy overall.

Both points support the argument that raising the minimum wage could have beneficial effects on individual livelihoods and the economy as a whole.