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Revaluing Low-Wage Work

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  • Bruce Pietrykowski

Abstract

Labor and community activists have organized around raising wages for low-wage workers, notably through the “Fight for 15†campaign among fast food workers. This study uses skills data together with manager survey data to estimate occupational wages. Quantile regression was used to estimate a skills-based wage. The analysis provides empirical support for a US$15 an hour minimum wage. The results indicate that low-wage workers possess skills that are undervalued in the labor market.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce Pietrykowski, 2017. "Revaluing Low-Wage Work," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 49(1), pages 5-29, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:49:y:2017:i:1:p:5-29
    DOI: 10.1177/0486613416666543
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    service work; wages/minimum wage; wage inequality; skills; fast food;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B5 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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