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This website provides extensive resources on the topic of a living wage. There is a wealth of information contained on the site, which provides comprehensive coverage of many issues surrounding the idea of a living wage and its impact on workers, communities, and businesses.One particularly interesting article discusses the impact of Walmart, not only on workers, but also on shoppers. I think the information on this site can be used in the discussion of how to balance the issue of how big retailers can contribute to communities by providing jobs and affordable goods while at the same time providing a living wage as opposed to simply low paying jobs that provide little or no benefits.

Jerry, this topic is a HOT one right now with the economy not only producing few jobs, but with people working 40 hours a week and being nowhere near meeting their financial obligations. Nice choice! M.

I've always been a supporter of Walmart - one of the few I think! If it wasn't for Walmart I'm not sure I'd be able to get by. The interesting thing though is that after reading one of the articles at the UC Berkeley labor center website, I realized that Walmart could pay more to its workers if they chose to and the impact on their profits, as well as the price increases passed along to consumers, would be minimal. The article discusses what would happen if Walmart was required to pay its workers $12 an hour and concluded even if Wamart were to pass on the entire wage increase to consumers, the increased price cost to the average shopper would only be about $12.49 a year. If Walmart offered a minimum wage of $12 an hour I can't help but believe there would be less resistance to them opening new stores in hard hit economic communities.