Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame
Then what's the problem with implementing one? The City will only have to support those necessary to meet that range, which is a rapidly declining number of minimum-wage earners in Calgary.
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The problem doesn't exist when the 'living wage' floor is below or right around the wage floor dictated by current market conditions. The problem with implementing it at a time of record high real incomes is that in a future recession or a contraction in real incomes (ie very soon if not NOW) will decrease the wage floor offered by market forces and thus the 'living wage floor' will be higher and the city will either be forced to overpay to meet their labour requirements (And cheat taxpayers out of money at a time they need it more then ever) or simply hire less people and hurt employment numbers. Paying less people more will equal less work done and lower productivity than paying more people less at a time when they are willing to work for less out of economic necessity.