Designed as a short primer to introduce students to core concepts, theories and ideas used by both economists and political economists to explain the workings of the economy, this book ‘does what is says on the tin’. 136 pages are divided into five sections, including the bibliography and a relatively short index. Beginning with the meaning, origins and development of a living wage, it then examines the concept in contemporary practice. The book moves on to a more technical discussion reviewing the impact of higher wage floors on labour markets and how income policy interacts with in-work benefits and wider social policy before summarising issues and policy choices for a sustainable living wage in the 21st century.