A latex binder useful in preparing a zero or low VOC latex coating composition, the latex binder comprising: a) a polymer which is a polymerization product of at least: i) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: R 1 - x -R 2 wherein R 1 is a first polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate, X is a C 2 -C 3 divalent alkylene group, x is 2 to 50, and R 2 is H or CH 3; ii) at least one acrylic monomer which is copolymerizable with the polymerizable polyethylene glycol monomer; b) water; and c) an emulsifier corresponding to structural formula: Ph- m -R 10 wherein Ph is a phenyl group substituted at the 2, 4 and 6 positions with groups R 7, R 8 and R 9 respectively, with R 7, R 8 and R 9 being independently selected from the group consisting of butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, -CH 2 -E, and -CH(CH 3)-E, where E is phenyl or cyclohexyl; wherein Z is a divalent hydrocarbon radical comprising a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein m is an integer of from 1 to 100; and wherein R 10 is selected from the group consisting of-OH, -OCH 3, -OC 2 H 5, -OC 3 H 7, -OC 4 H 9, -OC 5 H 11, -OC 6 H 13, -Cl, -Br, -CN, phosphonate (-PO 3 - M +), phosphate (PO 4 - M +), sulfate (SO 4 - M +), sulfonate (SO 3 - M +), carboxylate (CO 2 - M +), and a quaternary ammonium ion, wherein M + is a cation. a) a polymer which is a polymerization product of at least: i) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: R 1 - x -R 2 wherein R 1 is a first polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate, X is a C 2 -C 3 divalent alkylene group, x is 2 to 50, and R 2 is H or CH 3; ii) at least one acrylic monomer which is copolymerizable with the polymerizable polyethylene glycol monomer; i) at least one polymerizable polyalkylene glycol monomer corresponding to structural formula: R 1 - x -R 2 wherein R 1 is a first polymerizable moiety selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate, allyl, vinyl, maleate, itaconate and fumarate, X is a C 2 -C 3 divalent alkylene group, x is 2 to 50, and R 2 is H or CH 3; ii) at least one acrylic monomer which is copolymerizable with the polymerizable polyethylene glycol monomer; b) water; and c) an emulsifier corresponding to structural formula: Ph- m -R 10 wherein Ph is a phenyl group substituted at the 2, 4 and 6 positions with groups R 7, R 8 and R 9 respectively, with R 7, R 8 and R 9 being independently selected from the group consisting of butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, -CH 2 -E, and -CH(CH 3)-E, where E is phenyl or cyclohexyl; wherein Z is a divalent hydrocarbon radical comprising a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein m is an integer of from 1 to 100; and wherein R 10 is selected from the group consisting of-OH, -OCH 3, -OC 2 H 5, -OC 3 H 7, -OC 4 H 9, -OC 5 H 11, -OC 6 H 13, -Cl, -Br, -CN, phosphonate (-PO 3 - M +), phosphate (PO 4 - M +), sulfate (SO 4 - M +), sulfonate (SO 3 - M +), carboxylate (CO 2 - M +), and a quaternary ammonium ion, wherein M + is a cation.