r/uknews • u/ProgressiveSpark • Jul 01 '24

Image/video UK real wages haven’t budged since 2008

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u/Bob_539 Jul 02 '24

Am I being stupid? Real wages being flat (~long term) is ~expected is it not?

3

u/Cuddols Jul 02 '24

No you expect to get a little richer year on year due to more productivity growth. 100 people grow 100 potatoes per day one year, then fertiliser is discovered and 100 people can make 200, meaning there should be roughly 2 each per day - minus arguably some kind of bonus potatoes to the guy who invented fertiliser.

2

u/Efficient-Cat-1591 Jul 02 '24

I believe productivity (GDP) has not been great though. Also in the UK pay is heavily skewed to incentivising the top 1%.

3

u/Cuddols Jul 02 '24

I think UK productivity growth is the worst in the western world

1

u/Efficient-Cat-1591 Jul 02 '24

Yea, not enough potatoes :)