Living Wages Around the World

Abstract

"This manual describes a new methodology to measure a decent but basic standard of living in different countries and how much workers need to earn to afford this, making it possible for researchers to estimate comparable living wages around the world and determine gaps between living wages and prevailing wages, even in countries with limited secondary data." Overview of the Anker living wage methodology -- Section I: Cost of a basic but decent life for worker and family -- Model diet for a living wage -- Local food prices -- Local housing standard for a living wage -- Local cost of decent housing for a living wage -- Non-food and non-housing costs -- Post checks of non-food non-housing costs : introduction -- Health care cost rapid assessment post check -- Education cost rapid assessment post check -- Provision for unexpected events and sustainability -- Family size for a living wage -- Section II: Estimating a living wage -- Number of workers per family -- Take home pay required and taking statutory deductions into account -- Section III: Prevailing wages and gaps to a living wage -- Measuring prevailing wages to compare to a living wage -- In kind benefits as partial payment of a living wage -- Living wage in context : wage ladder and recent wage trends -- Section IV: Typical living wage report and updating a living wage estimate -- Suggested outline of a living wage report -- Summary tables to include in a living wage report -- Updating a living wage estimate.