Your argument in favor of State Representative Dan Winsow's argument for exempting young people from an increase in the minimum wage is flawed (Raise the minimum wage, but exempt summer jobs for teens. Boston Globe, June 17, 2013: A12).

The assumption is that these young people are working for pocket money. However, these young people may well be working in order to pay for or save for a college education. According to the College Board the average amount (in constant dollars) actually paid (after taking into account scholarship support) has increased 29% at Public 4-year Colleges (and almost 26% at Private 4-year Colleges) over the past 10 years.

Over the same period, the value of the Federal minimum wage has eroded from being worth $4.75 in 1996 to being worth $4.04 in 2006 -- a decline of almost 15%.

To maintain the affordability of College, we should include teens in the raised minimum wage.



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