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I see this as economic pollution originating from those companies. They dip below the danger line because they can and it has so many negative societal effects

I see this as economic pollution originating from those companies. They dip below the danger line because they can and it has so many negative societal effects that... it might be impossible to clean up.

Jensson 2y ago
> it has so many negative societal effects that... it might be impossible to clean up. How is low wages worse than no wages? I don't get it.
- vidarh 2y ago
  Subsidizing companies to outcompete those able to be productive enough to pay livable wages creates a competitive pressure towards lower wages for more people, and creates a greater need for those subsidies.
- willcipriano 2y ago
  Me and a guy with go into a job interview. The other guy gets his apartment paid for by the state, he asks for $10/hr I need to pay for my apartment so I need $20. The other guy gets the job and the apartment. Have this play out a million times across the entire economy.
- loa_in_ 2y ago
  Let's imagine someone working a standard full-time job. They put in the same hours as everyone else. Constraints make it so you can't really have 1.5 of a job or two, not really, not sustainably, so they have one job. If an employee at the end of the month ends up having some kind of disposable income, that's a great result. If an employee at the end of the month ends up not having some kind of disposable income, but still have their needs met, that's an okay result. But if they put in as many hours as everyone else and their income dips below some logistical threshold their work becomes unsustainable. Either someone else has to pay for their continued living or they sink. Now since companies figured out that government will help people on the verge of sinking, they would gradually lower pay below the threshold, while government makes up the difference from everyone else's pocket. They would do that, they /are/ doing that, so to combat this government imposes a minimum wage. Not to say, that there aren't jobs that make sense to be below minimum wage, but the big bad actors force government's hand, just like one liar destroys everyone's trust in everyone else.
- Ekaros 2y ago
  Question really is not about low wages, but so low wages you can not afford basics. Full time work, should always cover minimal housing(studio apartment, with heating), food(more than just rice), clothing(more than just fourth hand rags) and preventive health care with reasonable issues fixed. If system can not reach this level there is lot to do to fix the system. Setting up minimum wages to level where this happens is one of them.

Jensson 2y ago

> it has so many negative societal effects that... it might be impossible to clean up. How is low wages worse than no wages? I don't get it.

vidarh 2y ago
Subsidizing companies to outcompete those able to be productive enough to pay livable wages creates a competitive pressure towards lower wages for more people, and creates a greater need for those subsidies.
willcipriano 2y ago
Me and a guy with go into a job interview. The other guy gets his apartment paid for by the state, he asks for $10/hr I need to pay for my apartment so I need $20. The other guy gets the job and the apartment. Have this play out a million times across the entire economy.
loa_in_ 2y ago
Let's imagine someone working a standard full-time job. They put in the same hours as everyone else. Constraints make it so you can't really have 1.5 of a job or two, not really, not sustainably, so they have one job. If an employee at the end of the month ends up having some kind of disposable income, that's a great result. If an employee at the end of the month ends up not having some kind of disposable income, but still have their needs met, that's an okay result. But if they put in as many hours as everyone else and their income dips below some logistical threshold their work becomes unsustainable. Either someone else has to pay for their continued living or they sink. Now since companies figured out that government will help people on the verge of sinking, they would gradually lower pay below the threshold, while government makes up the difference from everyone else's pocket. They would do that, they /are/ doing that, so to combat this government imposes a minimum wage. Not to say, that there aren't jobs that make sense to be below minimum wage, but the big bad actors force government's hand, just like one liar destroys everyone's trust in everyone else.
Ekaros 2y ago
Question really is not about low wages, but so low wages you can not afford basics. Full time work, should always cover minimal housing(studio apartment, with heating), food(more than just rice), clothing(more than just fourth hand rags) and preventive health care with reasonable issues fixed. If system can not reach this level there is lot to do to fix the system. Setting up minimum wages to level where this happens is one of them.