President Trump has recently voiced his desire to end penny production, a move that has sparked debate among experts and advocates. The question of whether or not the penny should be eliminated has long been a topic of discussion, with some arguing that it is time to do away with the least-valuable coin in circulation.
Advocates of ditching the penny argue that it no longer serves a useful purpose in our modern economy. The cost of producing a penny is actually more than its face value, making it a financial burden for the government. In addition, many argue that the penny has lost its practicality, as it has minimal purchasing power and is often left unused or discarded.
However, there are also arguments in favor of keeping the penny in circulation. Some believe that the penny is an important part of American history and culture, and should be preserved for sentimental reasons. Others argue that eliminating the penny could lead to rounding practices that might actually end up costing consumers more in the long run.
If the penny were to be eliminated, there would undoubtedly be some consequences. Prices would likely be rounded to the nearest nickel, potentially leading to inflation and increased costs for consumers. On the other hand, getting rid of the penny could save the government millions of dollars in production costs each year.
As the debate over the future of the penny continues, it is clear that there are valid arguments on both sides of the issue. While ending penny production may seem like a practical solution, the potential impact on consumers and the economy must also be carefully considered. Only time will tell whether or not the penny will remain a part of our currency system in the years to come.
Watch the video by The Wall Street Journal
Video “Trump Wants to End Penny Production. Here Are the Pros and Cons. | WSJ” was uploaded on 02/14/2025 to Youtube Channel The Wall Street Journal
1:36 the guy speaking here represents the companies producing the zinc for pennys. Crazy that WSJ censored the original comment pointing this out, I’m re-surfacing the original comment
Everything the pro-penny guy said in this video was straight up wrong
I could never collect enough to make a dollar anyway
We still see $2 bills today
This Mark Weller guy is full of BS and nonsense economics… it sound like a guy desperately wanting to keep his penny minting business
I did an experiment awhile back in the cafeteria where I worked. I put a penny on top of a nickel on top of a napkin dispenser. They stayed there for a few hours. I noticed later the nickel was gone but the penny was still there.
Note this: The penny was on top of the nickel. It was MORE work to just take the nickel than to just grab both of them.
This tells me the penny has a NEGATIVE value. They are not worth the cost of counting them, or picking them up if they fall. Good riddance!
I say get rid of penny and pay me for my copper pennies.
0:15 This guy is funded by companies that produce zinc blanks for pennies. Why is the Wall Street Journal leaving this info out, and why did my last comment mentioning this get removed?
One criteria would be to ask "what can I buy with a penny?" answer, nothing! Same with the nickel. At least gumball machines still take quarters. 🤔
Like this hole video doesn't make sense for example 3:34 if you are poor that doesn't mean that you pay with penies ther is still the quarter and the one Dollor bill
I pay in cash all the time. All the Pennie’s I have I never spend. My son plays with them. I used to keep them in a big jar and cash them in. I’m on the fence with this I guess. I could definitely cash in the crazy amount of Pennie’s I have yet that’s going to cost me money to do now.
$36/hr ave wage in the usa?
Can you check that fact. I think that is incorrect.
This is really short sighted! There is an entire economy taking place after the comma 🙆🏻♂️
Welcome to the 21st century, plebs.
you must be delusional if you think the average wage in the workinng class(that would be the people who actually MAKE the goods) are making 36 dollars an hour. and they are not throwing away their pennies. You also must be fogetting that the majority of wage earners in the U.S. are in the working class, many many of whom are earning minimum wage.
Why not also get rid of the Nickels and Dimes?? They are genuinely not useful for anything either.
@CGPGrey 's gonna be happy.
That is just "smoke" news. To conceal other important things. Europe scrapped the 1 and 2 cent Euro pieces long ago. 5 cent is now the smallest.
The dude is openly funded by the zinc company that profits off the penny production. WSJ how do you not disclose this?
Get rid of the penny, the nickel, and the quarter. Replace them with the 50c coin
Canada did it in 2013, best thing we ever did !!!! USELESS coin
A step closer to hyperinflation.
If we implement inflation as a natural progression (2% in this case), phasing out smallest denominations is just a matter of time.
The average wage of the US worker being 36/hr has to be skewed
Cash should be slower, but businesses add a bunch of unnecessary steps to get more money. Then they ask for money for other things outside the business. Stupid
Pennies are from a past era. Pennies have to go
Ha! He doesn't want brown anything!! 😂😂
My comment is for kicks and giggles!
Everyone know John Oliver is not a big fan of Trump and even he agreed that US need to stop the pennies
it is cost effective to make guns, bullets, and computer chips from metals
How is this even a debate, as a Canadian I can promise you DITCH the thing, more people throw them on the ground than collect them, I haven't seen a penny in maybe 8 years
We got rid of it here in Canada and it's been entirely a net positive. It always weirds me out visiting the US and getting these grubby pennies back in change.
If people actually used their pennies, you wouldn't need to make more. I'm sure everyone has a bunch they just don't bother to use..
Read more about what Trump’s plan to stop minting pennies means for consumers: https://on.wsj.com/4hC3RyZ