Living wage is a phrase that is commonly mentioned by politicians and media outlets. This prompt makes a student think about what a living wage is. Is it the same in New York City as it is in the middle of Iowa? Do some people have skills that can help a dollar go further? Maybe someone with a green thumb can live with less money than a person who struggles with gardening. The difficulty could make a challenge for policy since (1) voters will not necessarily understand what others view as acceptable. In Iowa, $15/hour buys you more than $15/hour in New York City. Also, someone who is handy can probably live for less than someone who does not have those skills.

• When we hear discussions regarding policy, the phrase "living wage" often comes up. Sometimes it regards a minimum hourly wage; other times, it is used in the context of universal basic income.
• As we expand this living wage discussion from a local to a nationwide discussion, we will run into some challenges. In this discussion, your task is to:

1. Pick a challenge that would make it difficult to define a set "living wage" across a nation
2. Explain why this challenge creates a difficulty, and the obstacles it makes to create good policy