Years ago I delivered testimony on the minimum wage to the Kansas City Council. After my remarks, a councilwoman asked about a chart showing worker productivity rising while wages remained stagnant. A video of that testimony and my written response to her question is available here.
I think of that again because a new report by the American Enterprise Institute’s Scott Winship, “Understanding Trends in Worker Pay over the Past 50 Years,” addresses the fallacy of that chart and the broader claim that productivity and wages have not grown apace. Contrary to claims from some on both the political left and right, who argue that pay has stagnated despite economic growth, Winship presents evidence that overall compensation has grown in line with productivity when correctly measured.
The analysis begins by correcting misconceptions about wage stagnation. Winship shows that median worker pay, though not rising as dramatically as some top earners, has increased significantly when considering total compensation rather than just hourly wages.
Winship also addresses the discrepancy in pay growth between different groups. He notes that women’s pay has increased more rapidly than men’s over the past several decades.
Winship suggests that instead of accepting a gloomy narrative of failing capitalism or deteriorating worker conditions, policymakers should focus on boosting productivity and enhancing skills among middle- and working-class Americans.
The report paints a more optimistic picture of American workers’ pay trends relative to productivity over the past fifty years. While there are opportunities to enact policies that could improve workers’ economic mobility, they must be built on the solid understanding of wages that Winship advances.
