DPP Professor Kahanec Presents Keynote Address and Launches Living Wage Monitor at International CSR Conference

Martin Kahanec, professor at CEU’s Department of Public Policy, played a pivotal role at the recent International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility and Decent Work hosted by WageIndicator Foundation and FLAME University, held from March 21st to 23rd, 2024, in Pune, India.

The conference, organized by WageIndicator Foundation and FLAME University, provided a platform for leading scholars and practitioners to discuss critical issues surrounding corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

Kahanec delivered a keynote address titled "From Numbers to Dignity: Empowering Global Communities through Living Wages," highlighting the significance of equitable remuneration practices and their impact on global communities.

In the keynote, he argued that the economic, employment, equality, education, health, and environmental benefits of living wages outweigh potential risks and costs. In particular, he demonstrated, using data for 7 occupational groups in 44 countries, that living wages calculated by WageIndicator and CELSI are more effective predictors of material deprivation and life satisfaction compared to minimum wages.

Moreover, Kahanec unveiled the Living Wage Monitor, a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in wage practices worldwide.

At the conference, Kahanec emphasized the importance of advancing research-driven solutions for tackling complex socio-economic challenges. "Fostering dialogue and promoting innovative approaches to issues like decent work and efficient and fair labor markets highlights the crucial role of the scientific community in addressing pressing global and community-level issues."