Reflections on the 'living wage'

This article examines recent developments in the progress of the 'living wage' in the UK and discusses their implications. It does not debate the pros and cons of higher pay levels for low-paid people in general – whether this leads to job losses on the one hand, or higher self-esteem and productivity on the other. Instead, this article focuses on the potency of the living wage as a rallying cry for a movement, but also discusses whether, despite its undoubted successes to date in meeting the practical interests of those who benefit from it, the living wage is a sufficiently robust concept to advance their strategic interests in the longer term.