Tag: nominal wages

The Office – Dwight Demands a Raise

In this deleted scene from The Office, Dwight argues that he deserves a raise. His rationale isn’t just based on his performance, but also because inflation is eroding his purchasing power. He correctly points out that if his nominal wage stays the same while prices rise, his real wage falls, meaning his income buys less than before. This clip is a great (and rare!) example of a character in a sitcom applying the concept of real vs. nominal wages.

Thanks to Dan Kuester and Dirk Mateer for the clip!

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The Pajama Game — 7 1/2 Cents

Asking for a raise is tough, but even a modest raise in wages can have a huge impact on worker salaries. In this scene from The Pajama Game, we see how a 7.5 cent raise can impact a worker’s wage. The cast goes through the calculations of what they could earn with additional income, including an automatic washing machine, a year supply of gasoline, and a vacuum cleaner.

Assessment idea: This is a neat opportunity to calculate real wages and see what 7.5 cents would be worth today versus 1953. The BLS has a calculator so you don’t have to wait!

Looking for more: Do you want to see more economics in Broadway shows? Check out BroadwayEconomics.com

Thanks to Mark Sammons from the University of Arizona for sending this clip in!

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