Fw: An Article From Slate

Max Sawicky sawicky at epinet.org
Fri Mar 31 09:09:42 PST 2000


. . . But as long as there is another sector unconstrained by the living wage act--which there will be--it should have no effect on the level of overall unemployment. It looks much more like a transfer from urban taxpayers to low-wage people who happen to work for businesses that sell to the city government. So I don't understand PK here...

The LW bills are all of different shapes and sizes. Those aimed at contracting typically pertain to a pretty limited number of workers, since not all contracting involves very low wages, and unionized contractors are exempt from the ordinances (the object being not to override union contracts with regulation).

A more far-reaching bill might not affect employment much either insofar as firms who remain in cities at this point find something of value in the location. This suggests the LW would affect rent, renters, and landlords.

On a different note, the 'jarvis scenario,' ironically contracting is somewhat protected from such a revolt because business lobbies are on the other side. One right-winger cancels another. You don't see nearly as much conservative zeal for budget cutting when it comes to the DoD.

mbs



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list