.jpg)
Our Declining Minimum Wage
- Jonathan Osler
- Sep 17, 2021
- 1 min read
This chart comes from the Economic Policy Institute.
In the Classroom
Potential questions for students to explore:
What does "adjusted for inflation" mean? How might the graph look different if it wasn't adjusting for inflation?
Was the federal minimum wage actually $11.12 in 1968? Justify/explain your answer.
How many hours/year does this graph assume the average person works?
What types of jobs are most commonly paid at the minimum wage?
In which year - 2021 or 1968 - would it likely be harder for a minimum wage earner to care for their family? Justify your answer.
Use the graph to make a mathematically sound argument for why the federal minimum wage should be increased.
Extension ideas:
Explore the racial and gender composition of minimum wage earners in the U.S.
Compare decline in value of minimum wage to increase in CEO compensation
Use the data to make predictions about the relative value of minimum wage in 10 years
Explore how to convert 1938 dollars into 2021 dollars
How Would You Use This?
How would you use this graph in your classroom? Comment below.
This would be a great way for students to gain or further their understanding of inflation. This would be great to go with a budgeting and investing unit.
This would be a great notice/wonder discussion for students to delve into the topic of inflation and face the reality of the waning of the power of a monetary unit over time. Students especially get invested whenever money is involved.
A lesson on minimum wage tied with inflation would a be great lesson that would promote student engagement. Students could start an explorer with what kind of jobs pay minimum wage and then move into a graph of how minimum wage adjusted for inflation fluctuates over the years. This would be an opportunity to bring the concept of inflation. The lesson could be tied to rate of change.
I would use the graph in my classroom as a discussion and critical thinking tool to engage students.
I would use this in math class to extend the thinking of my students. I would have students present in class the questions they were interested and that they either answered themselves from the graph or from outside resources from the internet. I believe this would make an interesting conversation in class and having discuss about factors about why the minimum wage has not changed as much and talk about inflation.