Question about the living wage movement

[Martin Hart-Landsberg <marty@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I would appreciate comments from the list on the status of the living
wage movement.  Some in South Korea associated with the Democratic Labor
Party are interested in examining some progressive practices that they
might be able to implement in local or city governments under their
control.  They want to learn more about the experience of cities or
municipalities that have implemented living wage ordinances and
especially about the ongoing political relevance of the movement.

I am aware of the various studies that have estimated the impact of
living wage ordinances on fiscal budgets, employment of low wage
workers, productivity of firms, and consumer prices so am not so much
looking for references on these issues.  Rather I was interested in
learning how people evaluate the current significance of the living wage
movement--has it become just a minor reform current; does it/can it
inspire new visions of the role of government and/or labor-community
alliances; is it a political dead-end, etc.

Thanks in advance,


Marty Hart-Landsberg