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There is a difference between someone being worth $50/hour and another person willing to do whatever for just $5/hour. For example, rich kids can take unpaid i

There is a difference between someone being worth $50/hour and another person willing to do whatever for just $5/hour. For example, rich kids can take unpaid internships because they don't have to worry about food or rent for the duration of internships. Poor kids can't usually afford to take jobs that don't pay.

frogpelt 6y ago
I'm guessing poor kids usually don't have jobs at all. Only about 40% of poor people 18-64 even have jobs.
- burfog 6y ago
  The minimum wage workers around here are of two types: 1. teenage children of the upper middle class or higher 2. poor adults with a history of bad decisions It's kind of a weird mix. Where are the children of the poor? You'd think they might want money much more than the children of better-off families do. Surgeons, business owners, passenger jet pilots, software developers, and corporate executives all send their teenagers off to work minimum wage jobs. The point seems to be to learn about answering to a boss and/or to learn why success in school is important.
  - gorgoiler 6y ago
    Where are the children of the poor? The ice cream parlor in Sausalito is run by (and frequented by) the children (and parents) of one class? The Denny’s in Excelsior by that of another?
  - magicnubs 6y ago
    I'm not sure where you live, but my experience has been the complete opposite. When I was a poor working kid nearly every other poor kid I knew in high school started working at 16. Some of my friends from wealthy families did as well, but not nearly as many and usually only during the summer and not during the school year. Most did not have their first job (not including internships) until after college.
lukevdp 6y ago
I am not talking about the intrinsic worth of a human. I’m talking about the price of their labor. Someone’s labor being worth $50 or $5 is a function of supply and demand.

frogpelt 6y ago

I'm guessing poor kids usually don't have jobs at all. Only about 40% of poor people 18-64 even have jobs.

burfog 6y ago
The minimum wage workers around here are of two types: 1. teenage children of the upper middle class or higher 2. poor adults with a history of bad decisions It's kind of a weird mix. Where are the children of the poor? You'd think they might want money much more than the children of better-off families do. Surgeons, business owners, passenger jet pilots, software developers, and corporate executives all send their teenagers off to work minimum wage jobs. The point seems to be to learn about answering to a boss and/or to learn why success in school is important.
- gorgoiler 6y ago
  Where are the children of the poor? The ice cream parlor in Sausalito is run by (and frequented by) the children (and parents) of one class? The Denny’s in Excelsior by that of another?
- magicnubs 6y ago
  I'm not sure where you live, but my experience has been the complete opposite. When I was a poor working kid nearly every other poor kid I knew in high school started working at 16. Some of my friends from wealthy families did as well, but not nearly as many and usually only during the summer and not during the school year. Most did not have their first job (not including internships) until after college.

lukevdp 6y ago

I am not talking about the intrinsic worth of a human. I’m talking about the price of their labor. Someone’s labor being worth $50 or $5 is a function of supply and demand.