In a paper consisting of 3 pages it is determined that people in Watchung, NJ cannot live on minimum wage based on an evaluation of figures. Also included is a sample budget for a family living in the town. There are 3 bibliographic sources cited in this paper.
Name of Research Paper File: RT13_SA317wge.rtf
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without putting people at risk. Also at issue is the minimum wage. Some argue that the minimum wage must be replaced with a living wage because even if people are
not on AFDC, they cannot survive on a minimum wage salary. Although this is generally true, it becomes a very serious problem in upper class neighborhoods. In studying this problem,
a particular locale will be a focus. Can a person in Watchung, New Jersey survive on minimum wage? Clearly, the answer is no. In Watchung, the median household income is
$103,502 ("NJ Estates.net," 2003, p.PG). The average utility cost in the town is $5,983.14 (2003, pPG) as compared with $2,800.29 (2003, pPG) nationally. The minimum wage in New Jersey
is $5.15 per hour. For a family of four, the poverty line in the state is $17,601 ("New Jersey," 2003, p.PG). Hence, a person earning $5.15 per hour, who works
40 hours per week, will earn $10,712. That is not enough to support a family of four. Of course, if both parents work at minimum wage, that figure will double
and become $21,424. However, can a person reside in Watchung on that money? Chances are slim as the cost of living in that community is much higher than average. With
the assumption that it is impossible to live on only twenty thousand per year in that community, one question looms large. How much money is needed for a family of
four to live in Watchung? It seems that in creating a budget for a full year for a family of four in that community, life would be rather
expensive. One would need at least a two bedroom apartment for a family of that size. New Jersey happens to be the second-most-expensive state--Hawaii being the most expensive-- in