Thesis

Increases in U.S. minimum wage have both positive and negative impacts on the labor force. Although workers currently earining minimum wage experience a higher paycheck, those making slightly higher than minimum wage tend to experience the most lay-offs, reduction of hours and other negative consequences as a result.

Professional Sources

Adam, Antonis; Moutos, Thomas. "Minimum Wages, Inequality and Unemployment." http://www.sciencedirect.com/ 2 May 2006. Web. 13 November 2011. http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/Adam_Antonis.pdf?issn=01651765&issue=v92i0002&article=170_mwiau


Bartlett, John. "Minimum Wage Increase Helps State Working Class." McClatchy-Tribune Business News. July 23, 2006. Web. Proquest. November 20, 2011. http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/abicomplete/docview/462509672/13329D2EB7D1FF17FFE/6?accountid=2909

Hamrick, Karen. "Minimum Wage Increase Would Have Greater Impact on Food System Than On Overall Economy." FoodReview. April 1999. Web. ProQuest. November 20, 2011. http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/abicomplete/docview/200316842/13329D2EB7D1FF17FFE/5?accountid=2909

Mason, Charles F. "Minimum Wages and Information" Journal of Economics and Business. 31 August 2000. Web. 13 November 2011. http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/Mason_Charles_F.pdf?issn=01486195&issue=v53i2-3&article=153_mwai

Neumark, David; Wascher, WIlliam. "Do Minimum Wages Fight Poverty?" Western Economic Association. July 2002. Web. ProQuest. 14 November 2011. http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/200898005?accountid=2909

Neumark D, Schweitzer M, Wascher W. Minimum Wage Effects throughout the Wage Distribution. Journal Of Human Resources. Spring2004. Web.November 14, 2011. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=f1f5b739-b54c-4025-a2af-224df15d2be8%40sessionmgr15&vid=1&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ehh

Professional articles

Adam, Antonis; Moutos, Thomas. "Minimum Wages, Inequality and Unemployment." http://www.sciencedirect.com/ 2 May 2006. Web. 13 November 2011. http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/Adam_Antonis.pdf?issn=01651765&issue=v92i0002&article=170_mwiau
The ideal level of minimum wage should be obtained through voting population.

Mason, Charles F. "Minimum Wages and Information" Journal of Economics and Business. 31 August 2000. Web. 13 November 2011.
http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/Mason_Charles_F.pdf?issn=01486195&issue=v53i2-3&article=153_mwai
This piece investigates the relationship between minimum wage and the rate of unemployment. Optimum employment can be achieved with the proper allocation of resources.

Neumark, David; Wascher, WIlliam. "Do Minimum Wages Fight Poverty?" Western Economic Association. July 2002. Web. ProQuest. 14 November 2011. http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/200898005?accountid=2909
Poor families can escape poverty through minimum wage increases and families that are not poor can fall into poverty due to the minimum wage.

Neumark D, Schweitzer M, Wascher W. Minimum Wage Effects throughout the Wage Distribution. Journal Of Human Resources. Spring2004. Web.November 14, 2011. http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=f1f5b739-b54c-4025-a2af-224df15d2be8%40sessionmgr15&vid=1&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ehh&AN=13257910

 Workers near minimum wage can increase pay but can also experience decrease in hours. Data reveal adverse effect on these workers.

Popular audience

The popular audience for my issue is middle-class adult Americans (that could possibly be my customers or employees). The middle class makes up the majority of the population in the United States and since most do not have a professional background in business, they need more information on the topic of minimum wage increase. It is important because this huge population votes and determines the fate of our country, so it benefits everyone for them to be informed when they vote yes or no on issues that make appear on the ballot such as minimum wage increase. They want to hear that increase in minimum wages will fix unemployment, inflation and the economy in general, however, this may not be the case. The popular audience will be hesitant to accept such a paradigm shift like decreasing the minimum wage. In order to effectively inform my target audience, first reasons need to be explained as to why increasing the federal minimum wage can hurt the economy and examples of past occurences of such. Second, possible outcomes of not increasing the minimum wage need to be given to show people how the economy doesn't always work in the way that is expected.