Category: News

The week of November 15th-21st is International Living Wage Week! Living Wage Week is a big deal in countries like the UK, and Just Economics is excited to partner with the National Living Wage Network and Living Wage for US to bring Living Wage Week to the United States in…

This Labor Day, a year and a half into a global pandemic, twelve years into a minimum wage of $7.25 and decades into growing income inequality in this nation. Isn’t it time?  Isn’t it time to not just honor the workers who make our society work with a holiday but…

Tuesday, May 25th, the Asheville City Manager’s budget was introduced and June 8th, the public will get a chance to weigh in on the budget during the public hearing. The final vote on the City of Asheville’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, will take place on June…

The cost of living in Asheville and the surrounding area has been a regular topic of conversation on social media, in the press, and around our office. At Just Economics, we run a voluntary Living Wage Certification Program that certifies (and then recertifies every two years) employers who voluntarily pay…

I moved to Asheville from the Piedmont of NC in 2008 to go to college at UNC Asheville. I rented my first house in 2009 in Montford, a two bedroom house for $900 which at the time felt EXPENSIVE, so after bringing in an extra roommate for a while to…

Just Economics has relaunched our Living Wage Certification program and reopened our application for Living Wage Certification!

We’ve added a new page to our website that features a new issue each week and a couple of way to engage with that issue. We’re also launching a video series called, Policy Minuet. Each week, we will release a new, 60 second video about a current policy issue. Check…

Just Economics is hiring for a part-time Office Administrator (approximately 20 hours a week). This job will initially be remote. Once it is safe to return to work in person, this job will take place in our Asheville office. See the job description below. To apply, fill out the google application and…

Each November, Just Economics reassesses the Buncombe County Living Wage Rate based on Federal Fair Market Rent data released by HUD. In 2020, the living wage rate was calculated at $15.50/hour or $14.00/hour with employer provided health benefits. All new businesses in 2020 were certified at that rate, but Just…

Community Resources For Buncombe County Information and Resources from Buncombe County Mutual Aid: BeLoved COVID-19 response Facebook Group:  Asheville Survival Program Internet Access: Comcast: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19#gethelp&all_Pricingandotherinfo Spectrum: https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/assistance-communities-need/ Food Assistance in Buncombe County Mental Health: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:800-950-NAMI, info@nami.org Transit:  COVID related updates at Asheville Transit: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/transit…