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Action economics? working with citizen groups in Revelstoke, BC to evaluate the impact of a living wage

Author

Listed:
  • Janmaat, Johannus
  • Harris, Lindsay
  • Carlaw, Kenneth
  • Evans, Mike

Abstract

Participatory action research has enabled communities to develop knowledge informed solutions to local challenges, challenges often involving difficult trade offs in the face of resource constraints. The challenges are typically defined by the local context, limiting both availability of data and generalizability of insights. We undertook an action economics approach with a group of Revelstoke community members deepen the collective understanding of the business impacts that may result from adoption of a living wage policy. An EXCEL™ workbook with macros enabled community members to explore possible costs and benefits. This tool clearly demonstrated the heterogeneity of business impacts and the form and scale of living wage employer benefits necessary for businesses to be no worse off. There are many context sensitive policy challenges that can benefit from an economic perspective, and therefore significant scope to share effective approaches for doing so.

Suggested Citation

  • Janmaat, Johannus & Harris, Lindsay & Carlaw, Kenneth & Evans, Mike, 2019. "Action economics? working with citizen groups in Revelstoke, BC to evaluate the impact of a living wage," MPRA Paper 96740, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:96740
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Action research; living wage; community engaged research; poverty reduction; regional economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • R29 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Other

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