this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2024
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Economics
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This is a market transaction... Why is workers age or family situatiom is a factor here?
Who benefits from the child being underpaid?
Uhm, that’s where you went? First off it’s pretty obvious who benefits, but generally speaking, in places that hire high school kids and adults in a mixed setting, everyone gets the same pay. They’re being “under” paid relatively because they usually work fewer hours.
Most unskilled labor the rates are known before you ever apply, and that’s what they offer. You try and negotiate a better wage they’re going to laugh and move on to the next.
As for why their age is a factor at all? Because state and federal regulations make it a factor. There’s a lot of limitations on when, where and how long minors can work.
And unless you go in for child labor… that’s usually a good thing.