Should Working For Less Than Minimum Wage Be A Crime?

Economist Don Boudreaux is always good for insightful questions that put sometimes muddy issues into clear perspective. His latest gem is a "Quick Question for All Advocates of Minimum Wages."

"If enforcement of minimum-wage policies were carried out in practice by policing low-skilled workers rather than employers — if these policies were enforced by police officers monitoring workers and fining those workers who agreed to work at hourly wages below the legislated minimum — would you still support minimum wages?", the George Mason University professor asks.

"Would you be good with police officers arresting those workers who, preferring to remain employed at subminimum wages rather than risk losing their current jobs (or risking having to endure worsened employment conditions), refuse to abide by the wage terms dictated by the legislature?" he continues.

Finally, Boudreaux wants to know if anyone would "think it an acceptable price to pay for your minimum-wage policy that armed police officers confine in cages low-skilled workers whose only offense is their persistence at taking jobs at wages below those dictated by the government?"

Read the rest of the story HERE.

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