Hamid Azari-Rad is Assistant Professor at The State University of New York in New Paltz, USA. Professor Peter Philips is from the Department of Economics at the University of Utah, USA. Mark J. Prus is from the Department of Economics at The State University of New York in Cortland, USA.

'For over 130 years, the setting of decent wage floors has been a crucial policy tool for promoting well-being among working people in the United States. The Economics of Prevailing Wage Laws analyses with both rigor and breadth of understanding one of the most important wage-floor policy interventions. The contributors to this volume provide cogent and persuasive answers to many major questions.' Professor Robert Pollin, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, USA 'This book offers an informed, careful, and rigorous look at a wide variety of the economic effects of prevailing wage policies on labor markets and public policy outcomes and offers a measured account of their impacts. The Economics of Prevailing Wage Laws should be read by all of those academics and practitioners interested in the past, present and most importantly future of this important area of labor market regulation.' David Weil, Boston University School of Management, and Harvard University, USA

• Contents: Historical Context For Public Policy: Introduction: prevailing wage regulations and public policy in the construction industry, Hamid Azari-Rad, Peter Philips and Mark J. Prus; The American construction industry: an overview, Gerald Finkel; Thoughtless think tanks: sound bite thinking about the history and intent of prevailing wage laws, Hamid Azari-Rad and Peter Philips; Prevailing wage laws, unions, and minority employment in construction, Dale Belman. Public Policy: Costs, Skills, And Safety: Prevailing wage laws and construction costs: evidence from British Columbia's skills development and fair wage policy, Kevin Duncan and Mark J. Prus; Wage regulation and training: the impact of State prevailing wage laws on apprenticeship, Cihan Bilginsoy; Prevailing wage laws and injury rates in construction, Hamid Azari-Rad. Public Policy: Compensations: Benefits vs. wages: how prevailing wage laws affect the mix and magnitude of compensation to construction workers, Jeffrey S. Petersen and Erin M. Godtland; Health care subsidies in construction: does the public sector subsidize low wage contractors? C. Jeffrey Waddoups; Pension and health insurance coverage in construction labor markets, Mark A. Price; Index.

Hamid Azari-Rad is Assistant Professor at The State University of New York in New Paltz, USA. Professor Peter Philips is from the Department of Economics at the University of Utah, USA. Mark J. Prus is from the Department of Economics at The State University of New York in Cortland, USA.

'For over 130 years, the setting of decent wage floors has been a crucial policy tool for promoting well-being among working people in the United States. The Economics of Prevailing Wage Laws analyses with both rigor and breadth of understanding one of the most important wage-floor policy interventions. The contributors to this volume provide cogent and persuasive answers to many major questions.' Professor Robert Pollin, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, USA 'This book offers an informed, careful, and rigorous look at a wide variety of the economic effects of prevailing wage policies on labor markets and public policy outcomes and offers a measured account of their impacts. The Economics of Prevailing Wage Laws should be read by all of those academics and practitioners interested in the past, present and most importantly future of this important area of labor market regulation.' David Weil, Boston University School of Management, and Harvard University, USA

• Contents: Historical Context For Public Policy: Introduction: prevailing wage regulations and public policy in the construction industry, Hamid Azari-Rad, Peter Philips and Mark J. Prus; The American construction industry: an overview, Gerald Finkel; Thoughtless think tanks: sound bite thinking about the history and intent of prevailing wage laws, Hamid Azari-Rad and Peter Philips; Prevailing wage laws, unions, and minority employment in construction, Dale Belman. Public Policy: Costs, Skills, And Safety: Prevailing wage laws and construction costs: evidence from British Columbia's skills development and fair wage policy, Kevin Duncan and Mark J. Prus; Wage regulation and training: the impact of State prevailing wage laws on apprenticeship, Cihan Bilginsoy; Prevailing wage laws and injury rates in construction, Hamid Azari-Rad. Public Policy: Compensations: Benefits vs. wages: how prevailing wage laws affect the mix and magnitude of compensation to construction workers, Jeffrey S. Petersen and Erin M. Godtland; Health care subsidies in construction: does the public sector subsidize low wage contractors? C. Jeffrey Waddoups; Pension and health insurance coverage in construction labor markets, Mark A. Price; Index.