Conclusion: living wages and liberal welfare states in the 21st century

The Conclusion makes the case for a living wage welfare state, building on the analysis, evidence, and argument of the previous chapters. It distinguishes a minimal reform strategy based on narrow improvements in the wage floor from a broader reform program aimed at building living wage foundations that are realistic and suitable to the structures, power resources, and institutions of liberal welfare states. In doing so, it makes a distinction between conservative-liberal, social-liberal, and living wages models for transforming liberal welfare and employment structures to reduce inequalities and improve working class lives. At the same time, the book strongly endorses a greater role for social scientists in debates and research about low wage workers and encourages social policy analysts to re-engage with the emerging situation in overextended and liberalised labour markets.