In early 2014, an open letter signed by 600 economists urging President Obama and US Congressional leaders to raise the minimum wage was published in the New York Times refuting the classic economic “job killer” argument. More recent empirical evidence suggests that spending those additional wages would stimulate the economy, raise demand and result in job growth.
Subsequently, an anti-labor think-tank accused eight of the 600 signatories of Communist leanings and therefore unqualified to advocate an increase in the minimum wage. Those named openly decried such red-baiting as damaging to the public discourse and urged politicians, economists and the public to start thinking about the minimum wage controversy outside the box.
While red baiting may be uniquely American, the minimum wage controversy is not. The Irish minimum wage faces cuts following the 2008 crash in an effort to make Ireland “more competitive”. In 2012, Greece cut its minimum wage while unemployment still hovers around 60%. Indian workers are required to work 347 minutes at minimum wage to purchase a Big Mac. Scandinavian countries don’t have a national minimum wage because they are highly unionized, leading to strong and harmonious cooperation between employees and labor. What box have they been thinking outside of?
It is in that very spirit that Forum for Social Economics invites contributors from around the world who have thought beyond the confines of economic orthodoxy with regard to the minimum wage.
This open, international special issue will explore the minimum wage matter from the varied viewpoints of economists, political scientists, sociologists and ethicists, welcoming perspectives on cultural imperatives, institutional framework, socio-economic history and political motives behind the attitudes and policies governing low-wage workers.
We welcome manuscripts from around the world that offer international, national, regional, comparative or theoretical perspectives.
These may employ a wide selection of tools including macro-modeling, calculations and simulations of the differential effects of (no) minimum wage. Contributions may embrace comparative research, institutional analysis, historical investigation, qualitative inquiry, political economy, or even experimental research. Our venture in “thinking outside the box” is an opportunity to beneficially influence national discourse and public policy.
Key Themes
o What insights arise from the opening narrative concerning social provisioning, the neoliberal agenda that has increased the power of capital and the potential for global social unrest?
o Has the post-war capital-labor accord been completely eroded in the US and around the world?
o In what way do the seminal empirical studies both confuse and inform the debate?
o Is reluctance to pay low-wage US workers a living wage historically connected to the American slave experience? How would this inform today’s policies toward poverty, inequality and welfare?
o What is the nexus between anti-unionism and minimum wage policy?
o Why don’t policy-makers view a living wage as a human rights question?
Submissions
Innovative and clearly written manuscripts are subject to the Forum’s double-blind review process. The maximum length of original research articles is between 6,500 and 8,500 words. The length for shorter papers such as review articles is no longer than 4,000 words. An abstract of 150 words should accompany the manuscript. The main document must not disclose the identity of the author. For additional guidelines and procedures please see our Instructions to Authors at the publisher’s website www.tandfonline.com
Submissions should be directed through the on-line submission system here.
For further information on this Special Issue, please contact the Special Issue Editor: Professor Cecilia Winters, Co-Editor/Forum for Social Economics: cecilia.winters at comcast.net
Submission Dates: Abstracts Due: September 01, 2014 Final Manuscripts Due: January 15, 2015 Publication of Special Issue scheduled for the end of 2015.