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What’s in a name? From minimum wages to living wages in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Thorsten Schulten

    (Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), Düsseldorf, Germany)

  • Torsten Müller

    (European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

The development of a European minimum wage policy is back on the political agenda. While in the past the debate about a European minimum wage policy was largely detached from developments at national level, more recently the debate has been based on various national-level initiatives to ensure a living wage that enables workers and their families to enjoy a decent standard of living. Based on an introduction to the living wage concept, this article analyses how recent living wage initiatives in several EU Member States and the development of a European minimum wage policy could mutually reinforce each other and eventually result in a European living wage policy. In view of the significant heterogeneity of minimum wage regimes and welfare state traditions across Europe, the article calls for a pragmatic approach that adopts a common European target of 60 per cent of the national median wage as the benchmark for an adequate minimum wage.

Suggested Citation

  • Thorsten Schulten & Torsten Müller, 2019. "What’s in a name? From minimum wages to living wages in Europe," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 25(3), pages 267-284, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:25:y:2019:i:3:p:267-284
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258919873989
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Felix Syrovatka, 2022. "Book Review: Minimum Wage Regimes. Statutory Regulation, Collective Bargaining and Adequate Levels," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 28(2), pages 291-294, May.

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