The Living Wage

Donald Hirsch; Laura Valadez-Martinez

doi:10.1017/9781911116479

The 'living wage' is an old idea that has experienced a dramatic resurgence of political popularity in recent years. The underlying logic of the concept is quite clear: it is a wage that provides workers with enough income to live on at some level considered adequate. However, in practice the term has become blurred with that of the 'minimum wage' and in its implementation it has lacked a consistent meaning despite being widely used as a campaigning slogan.

This short primer traces the origins of the concept of the living wage and seeks to explain the current rise in its fortunes as an economic instrument with a social objective. It examines its impact on labour markets and wage levels, explores how it has been applied, and assesses whether it is an effective measure for raising living standards.

It offers a broad-ranging analysis of the debates, policy developments and limitations of wage floors in developed economies and will appeal to a wide readership in economics, public policy and sociology, as well as those working in non-profit and non-governmental organizations.

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The Living Wage

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Preface
pp vii-x

Acknowledgements
pp xi-xii

A note on terminology
pp xiii-xiv

1 - The meaning, origins and development of a living wage
pp 1-20

2 - Contemporary living wages in practice
pp 21-48

3 - The impact of higher wage floors on labour markets
pp 49-76

4 - Interactions with incomes and social policy
pp 77-102

5 - Issues and choices for a sustainable living wage in the twenty-first century
pp 103-114

References
pp 115-120

Index
pp 121-122

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The Living Wage

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