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  3. So firmly entrenched in the political economy has the minimum wage become that its latest increase to ￡5.35 ($10.08) an hour, ca

So firmly entrenched in the political economy has the minimum wage become that its latest increase to ￡5.35 ($10.08) an hour, ca

admin2011-03-10  36
问题    So firmly entrenched in the political economy has the minimum wage become that its latest increase to ￡5.35 ($10.08) an hour, caused little stir. Yet the introduction of a national pay floor in 1999 was one of New Labour’s most radical economic policies. Although minimum wage rates had previously covered a few industries, this was the first time that a general rate had been set.
   During the 1997 election campaign the Conservatives said that the policy would destroy jobs. Some economists calculated that hundreds of thousands of people might be put out of work. These dire warnings proved way off the mark after the national minimum wage came into force seven years ago. The feared job losses did not materialise.
   However, that benign acquisition had much to do with the cautious approach the government, advised by the Low Pay Commission, at first adopted. In April 1999 the main rate—for workers aged 22 or over— was set quite low, at ￡3.60 an hour. Eighteen months later, the rate edged up to ￡3.70. At this level it was worth only 36% of average hourly earnings for all employees. Furthermore, workers aged 18 to 21 had a separate, lower rate, which began at ￡3 in 1999 and was raised to ￡3.20 in October 2000.
   The modest starting point for the minimum wage meant that it affected relatively few workers. The commission initially thought that it would raise the pay of around 2m workers but in practice only about a million gained. This limited any possible loss of jobs.
   After the initial period of caution, however, the government got bolder. This month’s increase pushed the main rate up by 6% , comfortably ahead of average earnings which went up by 4.4% in the past year. Since 1999 the minimum wage has risen by 49% , outstripping average earnings which increased by 32% in the past seven years. As a result, it is now worth 41% of average hourly earnings.
   This trajectory contrasts sharply with what has happened in America. The federal minimum wage has stayed at $5.15 since September 1997. At this level, it is worth 27% of average hourly wages for all employees other than those working in agriculture or for the federal government—far stingier than Britain’s rate.
   The commission accepts that the period when the minimum wage rose faster than average earnings is over. The worry, however, is that it has already risen to a level that will hurt employment. The Confederation of British Industry said on September 24th that businesses in several parts of the economy, such as retailing, were struggling to cope with the minimum wage. A few days later the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) added that the latest increase would have "serious implications" for firms. David Kern, who advises the BCC, says: "There is now a distinct risk that the minimum wage will have an adverse effect on jobs. "
   Whether employment will necessarily take a big knock is uncertain. Mainstream economic theory suggests that a minimum wage set too high will cost jobs. However, the evidence from other countries has been quite mixed. Some studies find no impact on employment whereas others find the jobs do indeed disappear, especially among young people.
   In a recent appraisal of employment policies in the world’s developed economies, the OECD said that "a moderate minimum wage generally is not a problem". Britain’s experience in the first few years of the policy bears out that judgment. But more recent increases have pushed the rate up to a level where it may inflict damage.
What is the main idea of the passage?
选项 A、The general pay floor has risen too far and too fast.
B、Whether employment will be negatively "affected is uncertain.
C、Economic policies should be made with great caution.
D、The general pay floor began moderately, but now threatens jobs.
答案D
解析 主旨题。本文开篇由最近一次提高最低工资标准引出主题，开始介绍该标准出台的历史，第二段提到当时人们的担心the policy would destroy jobs，结果是The feared job losses did not materialise。第三段开始分析原因The modest starting point for the minimum wage meant that it affected relatively few workers．接着指出之后政府的做法After the initial period of caution，however，the government got bolder，从而引出现在人们的担心The worry，however，is that it has already risen to a level that will hurt employment．最后指出But more recent increases have pushed the rate up to a level where it may inflict damage. 可以看出这里既提到了初始时适度的最低工资标准，又提到了现在标准提高最快，已经威胁到人们工作的问题，[D]是对两部分内容的恰当概括，故为答案。[A]只提到现在的情况，不全面，排除；[B]是倒数第二段首句提到的一个分论点，不全面；[C]含义过于笼统，没有具体指明文章内容，不能作为主旨。  
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