Overview: A Comparison of the Living Wage and the Minimum Wage

Creating Good Jobs in Our Communities: How Higher Wage Standards Affect Economic Development and Employment. T. William Lester and Ken Jacobs

A study of business assistance living wage laws--laws that link wage requirements to public development projects. The study finds they have no negative impact on private investment in urban projects nor on project employment levels. November 2010

Living Wage Laws: How Much Do (Can) They Matter? Brookings Institution

A report summary of how and how much living wage ordinances affect local employment and poverty. 2008

Living Wage Calculator

Produced at Pennsylvania State University, the calculator provides basic living costs for families of different sizes in each state and county, along with comparable poverty lines, the minimum wage, and local occupational wages.

The economic impact of local living wages. Jeff Thompson and Jeff Chapman

From the Economic Policy Institute in 2006, a detailed study of the costs and benefits of living wages.

Council Speaker Hears Sharp Debate on NYC Wage Proposal. The New York Times

The disagreements and negotiating points surrounding New York City's proposed living wage law for city-subsidized projects are highlighted. November 2011

The Vermont Livable Wage Campaign

An on-going, vigorous state campaign for strong minimum wages and other wage protections.

Measuring the Employment Impacts of the Living Wage Ordinance in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Nicholas Potter

The 2004 ordinance raised the city's minimum wage by 65%, but according to this study there was no overall drop in employment. June 2006

'Living Wage' Identified for Asia. cawinfo.org

A garment workers' advocacy group calculates a minimum living wage for Asian workiers. October 2009

The Universal Living Wage

The site for the universal living wage movement, which proposes linking all minimum wages to local housing costs.

Maryland launches first statewide living wage. Stateline.org

Informative article on the details of and responses to a state living wage.  August 2007