Living Wage Laws and Communities: Smarter Economic Development, Lower Than Expected Costs

Date Published: 
Sat, 11/01/2003

Brennan Center for Justice. Andrew J. Elmore. November 2003.

Living Wage Laws and Communities: Smarter Economic Development, Lower Than Expected Costs,” by Andrew J. Elmore, finds that cities with living wage laws had “contract costs increased by less than 0.1% of the overall local budget.” Few local officials reported that the living wage laws drove away potential business investment.

Living wage laws covered include policies in: Duluth, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Oakland, San Antonio, San Francisco, Toledo, Warren, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township. 

Issues: