Living wages around the world : manual for measurement Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Overview of the Anker living wage methodology Part I Cost of a basic but decent life for worker and family 3. Model diet for a living wage 4. Local food prices 5. Local housing standard for a living wage 6 Local cost of decent housing for a living wage 7. Non food and non housing costs 8. Post checks of non food non housing costs: introduction 9. Health care cost rapid assessment post check 10. Education cost rapid assessment post check 11. Provision for unexpected events and sustainability 12. Family size for a living wage Part II: Estimating a living wage 13. Number of workers per family 14. Take home pay required and taking statutory deductions into account Part III: Prevailing wages and gaps to a living wage 15. Measuring prevailing wages to compare to a living wage 16. In kind benefits as partial payment of a living wage 17. Living wage in context: wage ladder and recent wage trends Part IV: Typical living wage report and updating a living wage estimate 18. Suggested outline of a living wage report 19. Summary tables to include in a living wage report 20. Updating a living wage estimate References Index. Wages are the main determinant of living standards for the vast majority of workers and families around the world. This manual describes a new methodology to measure what constitutes a decent but basic standard of living and how much workers need to earn to afford this making it possible for researchers to estimate comparable living wages around the world and determine gaps between living wages and prevailing wages. The new practical methodology in this manual draws on 10 years of research and experience to clearly explain each step in the estimation process based on standards for a low cost nutritious diet healthy housing and all other needs including decent health care and childrens education. It stresses transparency and the need for time and place specific living wage estimates and is replete with examples from country studies that have put it to the test. The authors describe how living wages can be estimated in locations and countries where secondary data are limited and make new practical recommendations on how to value in kind benefits as partial payment of a living wage An essential tool for global sustainability standards researchers NGOs governments and international organizations interested in wages estimating realistic poverty lines formulating policies for reducing poverty and income inequality and improving livelihoods and international trade agreements. This manual is also an excellent tool for companies global sustainability standards trade unions NGOs and public private partnerships and others concerned with corporate social responsibility and human resources