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The minimum wage is the black teenage unemployment act. It…

“The minimum wage is the black teenage unemployment act. It is the guaranteed way of holding the poor, the minorities and the disenfranchised out of the mainstream is if you price their original services too high.” quote by Arthur Laffer
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“The minimum wage is the black teenage unemployment act. It is the guaranteed way of holding the poor, the minorities and the disenfranchised out of the mainstream is if you price their original services too high.”

Arthur Laffer

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

High minimum wages can unintentionally push low‑skill workers, especially minorities, out of formal employment by raising labor costs beyond what employers can afford.

In simple terms: High wages may hurt low‑skill workers.

Key Takeaway

Consider balanced wage policies.

Themes

economics labor inequality policy poverty

Mood

concerned critical

Type

policy economic

When to use this quote

  • policy debate
  • government regulation
  • employment decisions

Key Concepts

Labor market dynamics minimum wage effects social stratification

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we protect workers without reducing jobs?
  • What alternatives exist to support low‑skill earners?
A Different Perspective

Higher wages may increase living standards for some but reduce job opportunities for others.

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