Critics say higher wages will deter contractors from bidding for contracts, cause them to hire fewer employees and deter would-be beneficiaries of government support from making investments. As the living wage economic evidence continues to mount, however, these arguments have become increasingly untenable. In the article, economist David Neumark, a favorite expert of living wage opponents, recanted his historic opposition to these laws. Another sign of the erosion of opponents' credibility is their increasing shift away from economic claims and a new focus on demonizing the labor-community coalitions that are pushing living wage ordinances. As living wage campaigns continue to proliferate, they increase in strength and scope.
More ordinances now cover both city service contractors and economic development.
Final confirmation of the growing importance of the living wage movement comes from one of its leading detractors, John Doyle of the Employment Policies Institute. Jen Kern works at the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Living Wage Resource Center.