In order to pay workers the smallest wage possible during the depression, the slick businessman could manipulate the conditions in a few ways:
1. **Get more men than needed:** By hiring more workers than necessary for a job, the businessman could create a surplus of labor. With an oversupply of workers, he could drive down wages as employees compete for limited job opportunities.
2. **Lying about wages:** The businessman could deceive workers by misrepresenting the actual wages being offered for a job. By providing false information about the pay rate, he could convince employees to accept lower wages than they would otherwise demand.
3. **Get less men than were needed:** Conversely, the businessman could intentionally hire fewer workers than required for a job. This tactic could create a situation where there is high demand for jobs but limited positions available, allowing the businessman to pay lower wages due to the scarcity of employment opportunities.
By manipulating the labor market in these ways, the businessman could exploit the conditions of the depression to pay workers the smallest wage possible while maximizing his own profits.
