Study Shows Living Wage Laws Do Not Hurt Jobs, Economic Development

[Omaha Steve]

http://rwdsu.info/en/archives/12/study-shows-living-wage-laws-do-not-hurt-jobs-economic-development-12110.html

A study released yesterday by the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows that living wage laws do not cause the loss of jobs or hurt economic development in the communities that pass them. Living wage laws require that any company or development receiving city contracts or tax subsidies pay its workers a living wage. Living wages are different than the federal minimum wage because they are based upon the real cost of living in an area, and ideally provide a salary that allows someone working 40 hours a week to afford food, shelter, health care, and life’s other necessities.

The CAP study is the most definitive and comprehensive study of its kind, analyzing nearly twenty of years of data on living wage laws from around the country.

"This study shows what worker activists across the country already know - that living wage laws have been able to help lift workers out of poverty without harming employment or businesses in the communities that pass them, even during difficult economic times," said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum. "Opponents of living wage laws who say they can cost communities jobs or negatively impact economic development are just engaging in the same kind of smoke and mirrors that we've come to expect from big business and big developers whose sole motivation is maximizing profits."

"The study reinforces the fact that Living wage laws are one of the important tools we have in the fight to create good jobs in the U.S," Appelbaum added.

To read the report, go here: http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2010/11/living_wage.html

[OhioBlue]

1. interesting - thanks for the link. n/t

[Skink]

2. I bet if the living wage law is high enough the Fast food place don't set up shop.

In texas it seems to be a requirement to build any and all new towns around a Sonic and a Subway.

[pleah]

3. K&R