Living Wage Movements: Global Perspective (Advances in Social Economics)

Living wage activism has spanned time and space, reaching across decades and national boundaries. Conditions generating living wage movements early in the twentieth century have resurfaced in the twenty-first century, only on a global scale: 'sweated' labour, macroeconomic instability, and job insecurity.Upon reviewing the empirical evidence, the book's contributors make strong cases both for and against living wage activism. The effective blend of historical, contemporary, and global perspectives provides opportunities for teachers, scholars, and activists to evaluate how we can address low pay at the organizational and macroeconomic levels. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of illustrations......Page 10 Notes on contributors......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 List of abbreviations......Page 18 Introduction to living wages around the globe......Page 22 What is a living?......Page 34 The right to an individual living wage......Page 36 Wages and hours: historical and contemporary linkages......Page 48 Living wage laws and the case for a targeted wage subsidy......Page 64 The determination of living wages......Page 72 Living wage and low pay campaigns: contemporary global activism......Page 88 The living wage movement mushrooms in the United States......Page 90 Organizing homeworkers in Toronto's garment industry......Page 106 Living wage and low pay campaigns in Britain......Page 122 The living wage in Australia: history, recent developments, and current challenges......Page 143 The fight for living standards in New Zealand......Page 159 Evidence and lessons from US empirical studies......Page 176 The Miami living wage ordinance: primary and secondary effects......Page 178 Minimum wages and living wages: raising incomes by mandating wage floors......Page 192 The economic impact of living wage ordinances......Page 209 Living wages in US communities: an analysis of costs of services and economic development......Page 231 Index......Page 246 1. Introduction To Living Wages Around The Globe / Deborah M. Figart -- 2. The Right To An Individual Living Wage / John A. Ryan -- 3. Wages And Hours: Historical And Contemporary Linkages / Ellen Mutari And Deborah M. Figart -- 4. Living Wage Laws And The Case For A Targeted Wage Subsidy / David A. Macpherson -- 5. The Determination Of Living Wages / David H. Ciscel -- 6. The Living Wage Movement Mushrooms In The United States / David M. Reynolds -- 7. Organizing Homeworkers In Toronto's Garment Industry / Jonathan Eaton And Alex Dago -- 8. Living Wage And Low Pay Campaigns In Britain / Damian P. Grimshaw -- 9. The Living Wage In Australia: History, Recent Developments, And Current Challenges / John Buchanan, Ian Watson, And Gabrielle Meagher -- 10. The Fight For Living Standards In New Zealand / Prue Hyman -- 11. The Miami Living Wage Ordinance: Primary And Secondary Effects / Bruce Nissen -- 12. Minimum Wages And Living Wages: Raising Incomes By Mandating Wage Floors / David Neumark -- 13. The Economic Impact Of Living Wage Ordinances / Mark D. Brenner -- 14. Living Wages In Us Communities: An Analysis Of Costs Of Services And Economic Development / Andrew J. Elmore. Edited By Deborah M. Figart. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Economics, Finance, Business & Industry Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of illustrations 10 Notes on contributors 12 Acknowledgments 16 List of abbreviations 18 Introduction to living wages around the globe 22 What is a living? 34 The right to an individual living wage 36 Wages and hours: historical and contemporary linkages 48 Living wage laws and the case for a targeted wage subsidy 64 The determination of living wages 72 Living wage and low pay campaigns: contemporary global activism 88 The living wage movement mushrooms in the United States 90 Organizing homeworkers in Toronto's garment industry 106 Living wage and low pay campaigns in Britain 122 The living wage in Australia: history, recent developments, and current challenges 143 The fight for living standards in New Zealand 159 Evidence and lessons from US empirical studies 176 The Miami living wage ordinance: primary and secondary effects 178 Minimum wages and living wages: raising incomes by mandating wage floors 192 The economic impact of living wage ordinances 209 Living wages in US communities: an analysis of costs of services and economic development 231 Index 246 Living wage activism has spanned time and space, reaching across decades and national boundaries. Conditions generating living wage movements early in the twentieth century have resurfaced in the twenty first century, only on a global scale: 'sweated' labor, macroeconomic instability, and job insecurity. Upon reviewing the empirical evidence, the book's contributors make strong cases both for and against living wage activism. The effective blend of historical, contemporary, and global perspectives provides opportunities for teachers, scholars, and activists to evaluate how we can address low pay at the organizational and macroeconomic levels