Living Wage and Raising Families Out of Poverty

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Some 70 cities all over the US have adopted a so-called "living wage" in an attempt to reduce poverty by raising the pay of government workers and contractors higher than the state minimum wage. But the idea is being hotly debated. Ventura just turned it down and Santa Monica may repeal it. Michigan State University economist David Neumark, who recently completed a living-wage study for the Public Policy Institute of California, admits he's surprised by the cost-benefit results of his findings. Economist Robert Pollin, who authored similar studies for LA and Santa Monica, says the challenge now is to minimize the cost in order to more free low-end workers from depending on government handouts.
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Los Angeles

Public Policy Institute of California

National Bureau of Economic Research

Political Economy Research Institute

Santa Monica's Living Wage

SB 1856: High Speed Train Bond Act

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton