The Political Economy of a Living Wage

The narrative explores President Franklin D. Roosevelt's concept of a "living wage" through his speeches and policies, revealing its deep roots in a movement that predated his presidency by nearly thirty years. It highlights the living wage agenda during World War I and uncovers essential literature from the 1920s and 30s that influenced Roosevelt's views. The book also examines contemporary studies that integrated collective bargaining, social insurance, and minimum wage to assess the New Deal's impact on social justice, illustrating the philosophical underpinnings of its policies.