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From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Unemployment & the minimum wage
Message-ID: <34@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 5-Aug-84 20:36:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.34
Posted: Sun Aug  5 20:36:04 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Aug-84 19:04:10 EDT
References: <1665@inmet.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 26

[4 August 1984]

     What kind of living standard does $2.50/hr for a 18-22 year old
represent?  Not bad at all, if spent properly.  While in college,
I lived in a fraternity-type arrangement.  We were not a recognized
fraternity, but a self-run cooperative.  We rented a small apartment
building, paid all the bill (oil, electric, maintanance), and ordered
our own food (28 people were enough to order by the case from food
distributors).  Cooking and cleaning jobs were rotated among the
residents.  Everyone had separate rooms of about 150-200 square feet.
It was co-ed, much more civilized than single-sex frats.
     We had some 'luxuries' such as a library and cable TV with all
the optional channels (only $1/person/month, much cheaper than going
to movies).  The costs were $1800 per year room, and $1200 per year
board.  This works out to $1.50 per hour for a 40 hour week.  If you
made more, presumably you could afford to buy stereos, eat out at
restauraunts, etc.  
     Note, this does not allow for owning a car, which runs over $1000
per year counting gas, maintenance, insurance, etc.  If the worker
lives with relatives, the room component drops to zero and the
discretionary income would be greater.  I went to school at Columbia
University, in New York City, thus rental of the building was more
expensive than most other parts of the country.

Dani Eder/ Boeing Aerospace Company / ssc-vax!eder