Can you edit my proposal and 3000-word paper? ill attach the document and the feedback given. my research question is does minimum wage effect unemployment this is the proposal feedback: " You haven’t

Fatim Belem

Senior Seminar

Profs. Khademorezaian

June 9,2025

Introduction

More attention has been given to the minimum wage issue as people worry about gaps in income, automation, and how strong the labor market is. Many want to know if raising the minimum wage helps workers without undesirable results for the workforce. Taking action to raise the minimum wage is said to fight poverty, increase output from employees, and increase the amount people spend. These benefits are significant for families and communities that are struggling financially. For instance, according to Card and Krueger (1993), increasing wages for New Jersey's fast-food workers did not result in a drop in employment, which goes against traditional economists' beliefs. The later study (Card & Krueger, 2016) confirmed that employment does not always drop significantly when the minimum wage increases.

Even though Neumark and Wascher (2000; 2007) believe these conclusions are limited in their validity, according to their research, raising wages may lead to significant job cuts among vulnerable field workers likely to experience automation and cutting costs. Over the last few years, experts have pointed out that automation plays a bigger role in this issue. Scientists such as Clemens (2019) and Leonard et al. (2014) assume that larger pay for routine jobs could cause companies to switch to cheaper and more efficient machines. This means the issue now covers jobs as well as the future influence of technology (Soares, 2018). Considering that views on labor differ and the job market is changing rapidly, it is essential to analyze the topic thoroughly and equally to provide the best guidance for further action.

Research Problem / Statement of the Problem

Even though there are many studies on minimum wage, essential pieces are still missing from the research. Many times, the studies vary in their findings because of variations in design, source of data, and chosen control factors (Wang et al., 2019). Studies can show that the workforce's outcomes are little changed, but examining groups separately often reveals that some, like young people, those paid little, or employees working in technology-replacing careers, are more negatively affected (Neumark & Wascher, 2007). Besides, reports on automation warn that income-based automation may have significant effects, but this subject has not yet been well studied. Thus, it is necessary to unite various findings and find out more about the detailed effects of globalization on demographic and business sectors (Paun et al., 2021).

Objectives

This research proposal is designed to achieve the following goals:

1. Analyze how minimum wage increases affect employment levels across various demographic groups such as age, race, and education level.

2. Evaluate sector-specific impacts, especially in industries vulnerable to automation, such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing.

3. Assess the influence of different research methodologies on wage and employment outcomes findings.

4. Examine the relationship between rising minimum wages and long-term trends in automation and labor substitution.

5. Provide evidence-based policy recommendations to help lawmakers implement equitable and effective wage regulations.

Research Questions

This research proposal seeks to answer the following questions:

1. How do increases in minimum salaries affect labor in the US across various demographic groups and economic sectors?

2. How do varying methodological methods affect the conclusions drawn regarding the relationship between employment and the lowest wage?

3. How will raising the living wage affect automation and labor substitution in the long run?

Plan Of Action

The researchers will conduct the study methodically, using more than one approach to cover the topic thoroughly. The new approach calls for comparing essential studies and data about minimum wage levels and employment effects in the United States.

Phase 1: Literature and Data Review

The project will start with carefully reviewing what is written about the topic. Important works include Card and Krueger’s starting research (1993, 2016) as well as the examinations by Neumark and Wascher (2000, 2007), and the comprehensive study by Doucouliagos and Stanley (2009). More attention will also be given to Bhorat et al. (2014) since the authors compare counties across state lines to manage differences in demographics and income.

Phase 2: Thematic and Sectoral Analysis

Employment patterns will be studied across different groups of people and by other industry types, especially those exposed to automation. This part will be guided by Clemens (2019) and Zavodny (2000). In this part, researchers will examine studies about minimum wage laws in big cities such as Seattle and California.

Phase 3: Synthesis and Policy Recommendations

The final report will include all the key findings from the review. Among other things, the report consists of an executive summary, an examination of demographics, details about the industry, current trends in automation, and policy guidelines (Majchrowska & Zólkiewski, 2012).

Deliverables:

1. About 25 pages of extensive research make up the report.

2. Policies aimed at our issue for lawmakers

3. PowerPoint presentation for teachers or stakeholders to look at

Scope and Limitations

All studies here are empirical research done in the US after 1994. It strongly emphasizes conducting high-quality studies using natural experiments, meta-analysis, or quasi-experimental methods (Dworsky et al., 2018). Adding automation research gives a broader picture of the adjustments in the economy over many years.

There are, nevertheless, some drawbacks to the study. It only looks at domestic cases; international ones are excluded, except in special instances for comparison(Belman & Wolfson, 2014). Besides, papers that come from unpublished qualitative research are not considered, which could overlook some detailed viewpoints (Brown, 1999). Long-term prediction is hard since the effects of coming technology are not easy to predict.

Significance of the Study

This research uses many trusted studies to give a more precise and more valid picture of the effects of low wages on job opportunities (Gindling & Terrell, 2009). It clarifies the groups most in danger of unemployment, explains various reasons for inconsistency, and takes up new challenges related to automation. These findings will guide policymakers to develop fair and fitting wage policies without unintended consequences for the job market (Garcia-Louzao & Tarasonis, 2023). Access to these kinds of findings is essential when people discuss raising local and federal minimum wages.

Justification

This proposal is well-known because it uses many reliable sources and views to demonstrate how wage levels influence job numbers in the US (Hafner et al., 2017). This research takes information from numerous countries' data for decades in various work and populations. Research on automation (Clemens, 2019) allows this study to address future difficulties in the labor market besides the current outcomes. They will be informed about where extra wages can boost the economy and where other steps, such as re-education and government assistance, are necessary(Aaronson & French, 2007). Moreover, this study offers solutions and answers needed in a political debate, giving objective input that can help at every level of government. It ensures that efforts to help people experiencing poverty are not affected by having to find new business ideas and keep firms profitable.

Conclusion

When it comes to employment, raising the minimum wage is, without a doubt, one of the most conspicuous actions taken. Still, the outcomes they cause are not the same everywhere and depend on various factors. It explains how this research will be conducted to study the mentioned issues in detail. This project joins old and futuristic methods from Card & Krueger (1993), Neumark & Wascher (2007), and Clemens (2019) to provide new insight into wage-setting. Individuals working in policymaking, study, and labor sectors will learn more from a better understanding of the subject. At this stage, the review will be conducted, information will be gathered, and valuable recommendations will be shared to improve labor policy. This research will aid in developing better decisions as the world faces wealth inequality and technological changes.

References

Aaronson, D., & French, E. (2007). Product market evidence on the employment effects of the minimum wage. Journal of Labor Economics, 25(1), 167–200. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1493282/1/French_508734.pdf

Belman, D., & Wolfson, P. J. (2014). What does the minimum wage do? WE Upjohn Institute. https://research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1245&context=up_press

Bhorat, H., Kanbur, R., & Stanwix, B. (2014). Estimating the impact of minimum wages on employment, wages, and non‐wage benefits: The case of agriculture in South Africa. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 96(5), 1402–1419. https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/7297/DPRU_WP12-149.pdf?sequence=1

Brown, C. (1999). Minimum wages, employment, and the distribution of income. Handbook of labor economics, 3, 2101–2163. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abdulaziz-Dessalew/post/What_are_the_list_of_websites_for_free_access_of_research_paper/attachment/61dc7191f5675b211b1d220f/AS%3A1110758809190400%401641836945175/download/Chapter+32+Minimum+wages%2C+employment%2C+and+the+distribution+of+income.pdf

Card, D., & Krueger, A. B. (1993). Minimum wages and employment: A case study of the fast food industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w4509/w4509.pdf

Card, D., & Krueger, A. B. (2016). Myth and measurement: The new economics of the minimum wage. Princeton University Press. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400880874/html

Clemens, J. (2019). Making sense of the minimum wage: A roadmap for navigating recent research. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/94324/1/MPRA_paper_94324.pdf

de Linde Leonard, M., Stanley, T. D., & Doucouliagos, H. (2014). Does the UK minimum wage reduce employment? A meta‐regression analysis. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 52(3), 499-520. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm?abstractid=2478026

Doucouliagos, H., & Stanley, T. D. (2009). Publication selection bias in minimum‐wage research? A meta‐regression analysis. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 47(2), 406-428. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm?abstractid=1403498

Dworsky, M., Rennane, S., & Broten, N. (2018). Wage loss monitoring for injured workers in California’s workers’ compensation system. RAND Corporation research report. https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR2500/RR2572/RAND_RR2572.pdf

Garcia-Louzao, J., & Tarasonis, L. (2023). Wage and employment impact of minimum wage: evidence from Lithuania. Journal of Comparative Economics, 51(2), 592-609. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267297/1/cesifo1_wp10064.pdf

Gindling, T. H., & Terrell, K. (2009). Minimum wages, wages, and employment in various sectors in Honduras. Labour Economics, 16(3), 291-303. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927537108001140

Hafner, M., Taylor, J., Pankowska, P., Stepanek, M., Nataraj, S., & Van Stolk, C. (2017). The impact of the national minimum wage on employment. Cambridge, UK: Rand Europe. https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1800/RR1807/RAND_RR1807.pdf

Majchrowska, A., & Zólkiewski, Z. (2012). The impact of minimum wage on employment in Poland. Investigaciones Regionales-Journal of Regional Research, (24), 211-239. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/289/28924660010.pdf

Neumark, D., & Wascher, W. (2000). Minimum wages and employment: A case study of the fast-food industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania: Comment. American Economic Review, 90(5), 1362–1396. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles/pdf/doi/10.1257/aer.90.5.1362

Neumark, D., & Wascher, W. L. (2007). Minimum wages and employment. Foundations and Trends® in Microeconomics, 3(1–2), 1-182. https://www.nowpublishers.com/article/DownloadSummary/MIC-015

Paun, C. V., Nechita, R., Patruti, A., & Topan, M. V. (2021). The impact of the minimum wage on employment: An EU panel data analysis. Sustainability, 13(16), 9359. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/9359

Soares, S. (2018). Minimum wage: global challenges and perspectives. https://repositorio.ipea.gov.br/bitstream/11058/15500/1/en_PIF42_Minimum_wage_global_challenges_and_perspectives.pdf

Wang, W., Phillips, P. C., & Su, L. (2019). The heterogeneous effects of the minimum wage on employment across states. Economics Letters, 174, 179–185. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/425898/1/minimum_wage_20181004.pdf

Zavodny, M. (2000). The effect of the minimum wage on employment and hours. Labour Economics, 7(6), 729–750. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092753710000021X