HackerTube

Milton Friedman - Case Against Equal Pay for Equal Work

LibertyPen1 HN recommenders · 2016–2020
867K views · lecture · evergreen · Uploaded 2010-01-04

A short clip of Milton Friedman arguing with students that equal pay laws are counterproductive, and that markets penalize discrimination because cheaper equally productive workers are an advantage to hire.

Cited in debates over pay equity law as Friedman's free-market argument on discrimination.

Microeconomics & behavioral economicsLabor, work & inequality

Watch on YouTube

4 comments from Hacker News

@redthrowaway2016 · in “General questions about the Airbnb Community Commitment”

It's sad to see the tech community, which used to be very libertarian, move towards a hard-left progressive view of social issues. It wasn't that long ago that Friedman's arguments against equal pay laws[1] would have held sway here. The idea that the market punishes bigotry and so can be relied upon to advance freedom and equality used to be a core belief of the tech community. Now, it seems companies are falling over themselves to come up with ever more progressive and authoritarian solutions to problems that have only been complained about in the tech media--driven largely by people who care far more about culture wars than they do about tech. It's hard to see these developments and not feel that something important has been lost. [1] [VIDEO]

CitesView on HN
@patrickaljord2017 · in “I spent two weeks delivering for Uber Eats and made $4.40 per hour”

> When an employer chooses a white man over a black/brown/fuschia man even though the wage it's the same then it's not the law that is racist. It's the employer. Yes, but where there is no minimum wage, the racist employer has to pay a price for being racist because people of color are selling cheaper labor than white people, so if racist employer wants to hire white people only he will have to pay a higher price. With minimum wage laws, racist employers don't pay a price for being racist because whites get the same minimum wage, this is why it encourages racism. Milton explains it best [VIDEO]

RecommendsView on HN
@jxramos2017 · in “New law bans California employers from asking applicants their prior salary”

That questioning of the gap being that big makes me think about this exchange Milton Friedman had with some college students in like the 70s or something regarding equal pay for equal work. [VIDEO]

CitesView on HN
@trentnix2020 · in “Evidence that investors penalize female founders for lack of industry fit”

That's precisely the point Milton Friedman made regarding the 'wage gap' when asked about it 40 years ago. He noted that if one group of people could be every bit as productive as another at a fraction of the cost, that's a compelling competitive advantage. But as others became aware of the advantage, the overlooked group of people would find themselves more sought after. And that would drive up their wages and increase their opportunities. [VIDEO]

CitesView on HN