Here’s a well-balanced story by Steve Greenhouse in today’s New York Times, “Can’t Wal-Mart, a Retail Behemoth, Pay More?”
On this point, refer to an op-ed by Acton staff about the economics and ethics of the “living wage” (PDF).
For a discussion of the fairness of wages and free agreements of employment in Catholic Social Teaching, see “Justice and Charity in Wages,” from Religion & Liberty.