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The Living Wage: An Economic Geography Based Explanation for a Policy for Equality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2015

Carlo J. Morelli  and
Paul T. Seaman
Carlo J. Morelli
Affiliation:
Economic Studies, University of Dundee E-mail: [email protected]
Paul T. Seaman
Affiliation:
Economic Studies, University of Dundee E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This article examines the theoretical underpinning of living wage campaigns. The article uses evidence, derived from the UK Quarterly Labour Force Survey from 2005 to 2008, to examine the extent to which a living wage will address low pay within the labour force. We highlight the greater incidence of low pay within the private sector and then focus upon the public sector where the living wage demand has had most impact. The article builds upon the results from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey with analysis of the British Household Panel Survey in 2007 in order to examine the impact that the introduction of a living wage, within the public sector, would have in reducing household inequality.

Keywords

Living wagelow payinequalitypublic sectorBHPSgenderyoung workers
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , October 2016 , pp. 589 - 605
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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