Abstract
Using the results of his work on poverty lines (see previous article), Anker constructs a new methodology for estimating internationally comparable living wage levels. He goes on to compare his living wage estimates with median wages in 12 countries representing all development levels and regions of the world. While the percentage of workers earning a living wage increases with development level, median wages turn out to be lower than the living wage estimates except in higher-income countries. Moreover, median wage data are often for the modern sector where workers are typically better paid than in the informal economy.