Then you are jumping to conclusions and making assumptions that have misled you. Up until the 1970s wage generally grew with worker productivity and then everything changed and it’s been much more stagnant with most of the productivity gains turning into shareholder profits instead of rising wages. About 10 or so years ago we started more frequently having periods where wage growth outpaced inflation after a long period of very flat wages. More recently the whole covid and post-covid situation has transformed the labor market and led to wage growth. In 2023 we saw strong wage growth, particularly for lower income workers. If the current trend continues with falling inflation and rising wages then the coming years will lead to meaningful improvements in the lives of workers. What is dumb about this argument? More money in the hands of workers, especially lower income workers, is a good thing.
Then you are jumping to conclusions and making assumptions that have misled you. Up until the 1970s wage generally grew with worker productivity and then everything changed and it’s been much more stagnant with most of the productivity gains turning into shareholder profits instead of rising wages. About 10 or so years ago we started more frequently having periods where wage growth outpaced inflation after a long period of very flat wages. More recently the whole covid and post-covid situation has transformed the labor market and led to wage growth. In 2023 we saw strong wage growth, particularly for lower income workers. If the current trend continues with falling inflation and rising wages then the coming years will lead to meaningful improvements in the lives of workers. What is dumb about this argument? More money in the hands of workers, especially lower income workers, is a good thing.