Seems that Chicago is the first large city to implement a “living wage” for big retailers. By 2010, large retailers will have to pay workers at least $10 dollars per hour and another $3 dollars in fringe benefits. While I agree that companies like Wal-Mart, who make billions each year can afford this wage, I think it’ll cause a lot more retailers to think twice about opening large retail chains within city limits.

While many of these retailers will simply move their locations to the suburbs, I want to see how many actually stick it out in the city and pay the wages. How will these added costs be passed along to the us, the consumer? Only time will tell, but I can bet the profits of these companies won’t change much as a result.

What’s your opinion on the “living wage”?