Minimum Wage: A Structural Analysis

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A structural explanation of poverty places the blame on restricted opportunities caused by an unbalanced social and economic structure (Kornblum and Seccombe, 2017). The textbook explains, “3.6 million hourly workers earn the minimum wage (or less)” (Kornblum and Seccombe, 2017). Minimum wage is not enough for a family to survive on. In Tammy’s situation she is an employee at Burger King. In the video, Tammy explains that she was not even offered the $9 dollar an hour, as the other employees received compared to her $7.85. With only minimum wage, Tammy must walk to work, has no health insurance or retirement. Using the structural explanation, a dual market appears, indicating that the favored social group will receive better jobs and security.

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