A minimum level of pay laid down by law, for workers in general or of some specified type. Its supporters argue that this prevents the exploitation of ignorant or vulnerable workers. Opponents of a minimum wage argue that it must either be so low as to be ineffective, or will destroy jobs, especially if exceptions are not allowed for handicapped or inexperienced workers with abnormally low productivity. Critics also argue that minimum wages cause inflation, both by raising the pay of some workers directly, and because workers with wages just above the minimum demand pay increases to restore their traditional differentials with groups whose pay has been raised.

• balance-sheet
• balances with the Bank of England
• balancing item
• ballot, strike
• bands, exchange rate
• bank
• bank account
• bank advances
• Bank Automated Credit System
• bank clearing
• bank deposit
• banker's draft
• Bank, Federal Reserve
• Bank for International Settlements
• banking
• banking system
• bank loan
• bank note
• Bank of Credit and Commerce International
• Bank of England
• bank overdraft
• bank rate
• bank regulation
• bankruptcy
• Bank, World