May 26, 2004

Ha Ha Ha, Part 2

Via Nathan Newman.

Adjusted for inflation, average hourly wages for non-farm workers, excluding managers and executives, rose 25 cents, to $15.35, between 2001 and 2003. That equates to an annual increase of less than 2 percent, or below the rate of inflation.--source (i.e., not Nathan)

You'd have to work hard to get dumber than that.

Update: Well according to Mindles H. Dreck this problem is more common that I realized.

Update II: Posted by Bill in the comments,

Not to give this stupidity more attention than it deserves, but on top of everything else the data are being cherry-picked. Hourly earnings data do not include fringe benefits. Since 2001 total compensation (not adjusted for inflation) has risen by 12.9% among production workers at firms with 100 or more employees and by 9.4% at firms with fewer than 100 employees.

Funny how Nathan harps on things like benefits, but when it comes to wages he convienently forgets them. Anybody for a nice health cup of intellectual honesty?

Posted by Steve at May 26, 2004 11:43 AM
Comments

Which only goes to prove:

1. The average American's life has not improved under Dubya.
2. The economy is weaker than ever.
3. We should worry about deflation (having just started to worry about inflation).

The only solution is to vote Dubya outta the White House, at which point, all will be well.

Posted by: Dean on May 26, 2004 11:47 AM

is it just me or does this average to $.08 per year. 2001-2003 is three years, 25 / 3 = 8.3 roughly. Seems to me a counting problem is rearing it's head.

Posted by: god on May 26, 2004 12:05 PM

I try hard to do weird stuff, but I have to admit I'm gonna have trouble topping this one.

Give me a little time...

Posted by: Ron on May 26, 2004 12:41 PM

Check this out (text below the first graph):

http://salsa.bbh.com/news/archives/000283.php?insurance=1

Americans for Insurance Reform made exactly the same mistake of inflation-adjusting constant dollars.

Posted by: "Mindles H. Dreck" on May 26, 2004 12:54 PM

Not to give this stupidity more attention than it deserves, but on top of everything else the data are being cherry-picked. Hourly earnings data do not include fringe benefits. Since 2001 total compensation (not adjusted for inflation) has risen by 12.9% among production workers at firms with 100 or more employees and by 9.4% at firms with fewer than 100 employees.

Posted by: Bill on May 27, 2004 07:20 AM

Total compensation includes the largish expense of health benefits, which indeed become more costly year after year, at a rate far higher than inflation.

However, as the worker is getting the same, or worse, coverage, the fact that it is costing so much more does not accrue to his benefit, and rather points to the problems in the health care delivery system and costs.

Posted by: sofla on May 27, 2004 03:22 PM

Of course, the worker could quit receiving health coverage, get the appropriate amount added to his/her paycheck and cover their own health costs. It might just lead someone to wondering what the truth is about inflation in health care is all about. Look, either benefits are part of compensation or they're not. It doesn't matter what they're used for or how much better or worse they are. Health benefits are compensation. Period.

Posted by: JorgXMcKie on May 27, 2004 03:36 PM
However, as the worker is getting the same, or worse, coverage, the fact that it is costing so much more does not accrue to his benefit, and rather points to the problems in the health care delivery system and costs.

This is why one adjusts for inflation. The current BLS method provides an upper bound on the Cost of Living Index.

Posted by: Steve on May 27, 2004 03:52 PM

Actually, sofla, your comment "However, as the worker is getting the same, or worse, coverage, the fact that it is costing so much more does not accrue to his benefit, and rather points to the problems in the health care delivery system and costs." is an unsubstantiated assertion of yours, not a fact.

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