No, no, I appreciate the argument that a guaranteed living wage would act as a cushion protecting the Eurozone against asymmetric shocks. It would also dampen the massive flows of migrants from Eastern Europe to Britain and back again 4 years later which have caused no small planning headaches to local authorities both here and there.

A Germany-related question: isn't a guaranteed living wage incompatible with Hartz IV? See also Tory Workfare proposals (Starvid's objections in this very thread).

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith