Wage Discrimination via Protected Characteristics

Steps:

• Define wage discrimination as unequal pay based on protected traits like age, not job-related factors.
• Review options: Identify which factor is irrelevant to job performance and legally protected.
• Eliminate B, C, D as they tie to skills, output, or tenure that justify pay gaps.
• Select A as it solely reflects a non-merit-based, discriminatory attribute.

Why A is correct:

• Age is a protected characteristic under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), prohibiting pay differences solely due to age.

Why the others are wrong:

• B: Education measures acquired skills, a valid productivity factor for wage variation.
• C: Productivity quantifies output value, legitimately driving higher compensation.
• D: Experience builds expertise and efficiency, supporting merit-based pay differences.

Final answer: A