McMansions Near You

[DCI Harry Batt]

I don't know of anywhere that a minimum wage is a living wage. Could be, I don't know much about the rest of Europe for example.

[ursus arctos]

That's a valid question

My sense is that USD 15/ hour is in a number of places, though not where you and I happen to live

[DCI Harry Batt]

Is there anything in the US like the Living Wage Foundation here, an independent organisation which calculates a living wage on a transparent basis, each year?

(£9.50 outside London, £10.85 in London)

[ursus arctos]

Not a single, well accepted source.

There are a number of competing calculations available.

The US context is especially challenging because the cost of living, tax regime, social safety net and much else differ considerably by state (and within states).

[DCI Harry Batt]

Sure. I mean, things vary here too, within London as well as between areas outside London.

The LWF have done an incredible job in establishing themselves and the measure.

[ursus arctos]

Of course, though your legal and regulatory regime is much more consistent across geographies than ours.

[DCI Harry Batt]

Oh sure.

The government tried to get in on the act by renaming the minimum wage but I really don't think it has worked.

[S. aureus]

This site https://livingwage.mit.edu suggests $28/hour for 1 adult with no children in San Mateo County, with the minimum wage being $12/hour.

[Hot Pepsi]

$28 would be hard to live on there but possible, I’d guess.

[DCI Harry Batt]

There are always people who claim that paying people properly will cost jobs. It's best ignored.

[ursus arctos]

Happens to be a very active "debate" here post-pandemic, where the reactionaries are bleating that "no one wants to work", when in reality labour have become more sensitive to wages and conditions.

The GOP response to this has of course been to gut unemployment assistance and tear additional holes in what passes for a safety net in the states they control.

[ursus arctos]

https://twitter.com/danrkports/status/1420483570364149761

[Hot Pepsi]

That looks like a great place to run a meth lab.

[ursus arctos]

Suburban Dallas, so great from a logistics perspective too

[Ginger Yellow]

Is Dallas like Houston in lacking zoning?

[ursus arctos]

Not quite as laissez-faire, but still very unregulated in many places