Again, there are two sides to the story. Pretending like its apple pie for everyone is dishonest.
Worker Productivity Jumps Sharply
- Thread starter Topspin
- Start date
Again, there are two sides to the story. Pretending like its apple pie for everyone is dishonest.
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
No, because the productivity increase in worker hours could also be due to technological improvements.
Bottom line, the Wilshire 5000 & the Dow Transports are teetering on the edge of technical breakdowns today. The dollar is continuing to weaken. Energy prices remain high. The worst of sub-prime has yet to hit. The politicians should be paying the other party to take the White House in 2008. Because regardless of the outcome, the "winner" will not likely be re-elected in 2012.
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
IF you are going to look at wages rather than income (which is the better gauge for how individuals are doing) you should at least look at MEDIAN (middle) income rather than the MEAN (average) as that will not be skewed by the high end salaries.
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
Not necessarily true. Don't get me wrong, it CAN be true... just not always the case.
If productivity increases are technological in nature the employee could benefit in one or more of the following ways....
1) Safer/better work environment
2) Less physical work, yet increased productivity
3) If profit margins are shrinking, the company can make up lost income via the increased productivity can (not will) help to avoid layoffs or cuts in pay.
Last edited:
As you can see here, median family income has flatlined or declined in the bush era, whereas it rose sharply in the 1990s.
Another interesting fact here. While increasing wages used to track increasing productivity in the 1990s, they are diverging now. Companies are more productive and profitable than ever, but median wages have flatlined in the Bush era.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5303590.stm
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
That is not necessarily true. While wages are certainly the primary component, Income tells the true tale of how someone is doing. IF you use MEDIAN income and not MEAN.
Topspin
Verified User
Cypress loves to make Bush vs CLINTON nice try
Listen, no one said apple pie for everyone.
A report comes out with productivity up, that's good for the economy.
For months now incomes and wages have grown above inflation.
don't let the numbers get in the way of a good left wing argument.
Topspin is here to tell you that you can be leftwing and investor class too.
Listen, no one said apple pie for everyone.
A report comes out with productivity up, that's good for the economy.
For months now incomes and wages have grown above inflation.
don't let the numbers get in the way of a good left wing argument.
Topspin is here to tell you that you can be leftwing and investor class too.
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
Top, median income is certainly up over the last couple of years, but it really depends on the timeframe that you choose. I could just as easily spout off the fact that median incomes are stagnant as a whole since 2000. That would also be true, because we went from all time highs to diminishing incomes during the market correction in 2001 and 2002 and then had to work our way back up as the economy improved.
That said, I do agree with you on the competitiveness aspect.
Topspin
Verified User
I like most people looking at the market, investing and the economy am focusinging in on the current and past few months.
That is prob what is throwing most of these people off where we are going. They are stiking to some stale report of a long term political talking point number.
That is prob what is throwing most of these people off where we are going. They are stiking to some stale report of a long term political talking point number.
Safety isn't a variable in productivity per se. Its output over cost. If some cost saving measuring or technology happen to make the environment safer, then great.
This too can mean bad news for the laborer. Less physical work could mean less bodies needed > i.e. layoffs.
Yeah. That's what I said in the beginning. More work for the same or less pay.
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
Safety can certainly play a part in productivity. The less safe a work environment is, the slower a worker will tend to be due to the obvious concerns for safety.
Your second point... yes, it could if demand for product is not there to meet the increases in productivity output. But in a competitive environment it can also mean they keep their jobs. Which is why I tried to emphasize the word CAN. It is most definitely not always in or out of favor of the worker.
Your third point.... not necessarily more work... just more output. Look at the financial industry. Brokers today are far more productive today than they were 20 years ago. The increase in technology has made our jobs far easier and thus, more productive. We can increase output, while at the same time reduce our workload.
Cancel 2016.2
The Almighty
That is likely due to the fact that he tends to keep his head up the ass of the Democratic donkey.
1) Safety - I'm not denying that a process improvement designed safety in mind can't improve productivity. My point is that safety is not a measure of productivity. It may or may not be a by product of a process change that increases productivity.
And for the rest you keep reiterating my point that increased productivity isn't necessarily good for everyone. For Topper to come on here cheerleading like the masses and laborers should be thrilled about it is ridiculous. It can mean very different things for different people.