Second Call!
Special Issue: Forum for Social Economics on “The US Minimum Wage 
Controversy: Thinking Outside the Box”


In early 2014, an open letter signed by 600 economists urging President 
Obama and US Congressional leaders to raise the minimum wage was published 
in the New York Times refuting the classic economic “job killer” argument. 
More recent empirical evidence suggests that spending those additional wages 
would stimulate the economy, raise demand and result in job growth.

Subsequently, an anti-labor think-tank accused eight of the 600 signatories 
of Communist leanings and therefore unqualified to advocate an increase in 
the minimum wage.  Those named openly decried such red-baiting as damaging 
to the public discourse and urged politicians, economists and the public to 
start thinking about the minimum wage controversy outside the box.

While red baiting may be uniquely American, the minimum wage controversy is 
not.  The Irish minimum wage faces cuts following the 2008 crash in an 
effort to make Ireland “more competitive”.  In 2012, Greece cut its minimum 
wage while unemployment still hovers around 60%.  Indian workers are 
required to work 347 minutes at minimum wage to purchase a Big Mac. 
Scandinavian countries don’t have a national minimum wage because they are 
highly unionized, leading to strong and harmonious cooperation between 
employees and labor.  What box have they been thinking outside of?

It is in that very spirit that Forum for Social Economics invites 
contributors from around the world who have thought beyond the confines of 
economic orthodoxy with regard to the minimum wage.

This open, international special issue will explore the minimum wage matter 
from the varied viewpoints of economists, political scientists, sociologists 
and ethicists, welcoming perspectives on cultural imperatives, institutional 
framework, socio-economic history and political motives behind the attitudes 
and policies governing low-wage workers.

We welcome manuscripts from around the world that offer international, 
national, regional, comparative or theoretical perspectives.

These may employ a wide selection of tools including macro-modeling, 
calculations and simulations of the differential effects of (no) minimum 
wage. Contributions may embrace comparative research, institutional 
analysis, historical investigation, qualitative inquiry, political economy, 
or even experimental research. Our venture in “thinking outside the box” is 
an opportunity to beneficially influence national discourse and public 
policy.


Key Themes


o    What insights arise from the opening narrative concerning social 
provisioning, the neoliberal agenda that has increased the power of capital 
and the potential for global social unrest?

o    Has the post-war capital-labor accord been completely eroded in the US 
and around the world?

o    In what way do the seminal empirical studies both confuse and inform 
the debate?

o    Is reluctance to pay low-wage US workers a living wage historically 
connected to the American slave experience?   How would this inform today’s 
policies toward poverty, inequality and welfare?

o    What is the nexus between anti-unionism and minimum wage policy?

o    Why don’t policy-makers view a living wage as a human rights question?


Submissions

Innovative and clearly written manuscripts are subject to the Forum’s 
double-blind review process. The maximum length of original research 
articles is between 6,500 and 8,500 words.  The length for shorter papers 
such as review articles is no longer than 4,000 words. An abstract of 150 
words should accompany the manuscript. The main document must not disclose 
the identity of the author.  For additional guidelines and procedures please 
see our Instructions to Authors at the publisher’s website 
www.tandfonline.com

Submissions should be directed through the on-line submission system here.

For further information on this Special Issue, please contact the Special 
Issue Editor:
Professor Cecilia Winters, Co-Editor/Forum for Social Economics:
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Submission Dates:
Abstracts Due: September 01, 2014
Final Manuscripts Due: January 15, 2015
Publication of Special Issue scheduled for the end of 2015.