economics, minimum wage

Q: How Is American Samoa Like The U.S. Mainland?

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Q: How Is American Samoa Like The United States Mainland?

[ Classic Milton Friedman on the Minimum Wage ]

A: The exact same economic laws apply in both places, just like the same laws of physics apply in both places.

Soooo …

Obama Opposes Min. Wage Increase in Samoa Due to Harmful Effects, Will He Do the Same for U.S.?: PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — “President Obama has signed into law legislation to freeze American Samoa’s minimum wage until 2015. The president signed the bill Thursday, which delays a 50-cent increase that would have gone into effect in September.

Minimum wage in American Samoa varies from $4.18 to $5.59 per hour, depending on the industry. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 provided for annual 50-cents per hour increases until the rate matched the rest of the U.S., where the minimum pay is $7.25 per hour.

Employers and a government financial report have suggested automatic increases were harming the U.S. territory’s economy.”

Additional links:
Minimum Wage Revisited
Walter Williams on The Minimum Wage
Two Quick Questions To Ponder …
Why Be So Cruel, Why Not $50 / Hour?
GREAT Point On The Minimum-Wage
Ignorance in Congress: Congressman Says Higher Minimum Wage Would Boost Economy
The Temperamental Minimum Wage by Walter E. Williams
Does the Minimum Wage Hurt Workers? – YouTube

  • Frank

    This is a five year old story, isn’t it? It was the same story in 2007 when the increase to $7.25 was opposed for American Samoa. But WHY?

    The follow the dot connections are Star Kist – Del Monte – Paul Pelosi – Nancy Pelosi. The conventional follow the money rules apply.

    • http://pretenseofknowledge.com/ speedmaster

      Thanks, Frank. I was a little confused about that myself. I remember reading it three years ago. And it wasn’t clear to me if this was new or not.