Interesting article about the changing economic landscape that once allowed common folk to have servants but not be able to afford a car. Plus Agatha Christie is involved.
https://fullstackeconomics.com/why-agatha-christie-could-aff…
It’s complex and no one short quote seemed particularly relevant but the article as a whole is thought provoking.
I read that in Vienna you joined the middle class when you could afford one or more maids or servants.
The Captain
Interesting article about the changing economic landscape that once allowed common folk to have servants but not be able to afford a car. Plus Agatha Christie is involved.
https://fullstackeconomics.com/why-agatha-christie-could-aff…
Solarae100,
Beginning with the Industrial Revolution and continuing to the present day, the cost of living has evolved from relatively cheap services vs. expensive goods to relatively cheap goods vs. expensive services.
When one considers the amount of time spent throughout history preserving and cooking food, washing utensils, washing/hanging clothes, sweeping floors, bathing, and grooming - many of us would be starving, filthy, and unkempt if it weren’t for our electromechanical servants, including:
refrigerators,
stoves/microwaves,
dishwashers,
washing machines,
dryers,
vacuum cleaners,
hot water heaters,
hairdryers, and
electric razors.
Before mass production and competition brought us affordable appliances and home-based amenities, most of one’s life would be spent on arduous or menial tasks. For much of human history, it made sense for people with professions or sources of outside income to pay someone else to care for the household.
In the future, I expect some enterprising Henry Ford (Elon Musk?) eventually will reduce the cost of electric motors and vehicles to the point at which an electric (self-driving?) car is as relatively cheap as a suite of modern appliances.
The high cost of housing is one relatively intractable problem that technology cannot seem to solve. Over the last century, urban and suburban housing has gone from expensive to cheap and back to expensive again (today). Even rural housing is more expensive than some working-class people can afford.
It is so expensive to acquire and develop land, build housing, cover property ad valorem taxes (wealth taxes), and maintain improvements, many advanced economies have evolved into a form of “rentier capitalism,” fomenting the sort of class conflict that leads to a rise in Marxist sentiment among intellectuals, students, and non-property owners.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rentier_capitalism#:~:text=Ren….
https://www.newsweek.com/socialism-philosophy-majors-college…
https://www.wsj.com/articles/kimberle-crenshaw-critical-race…
The high cost of rent is one of the main reasons DW and I have stayed in our too-big house after retirement. The lack of a mortgage makes it almost as cheap to own a 5BR-5BA 5,000 SF house with a 3-car attached garage as it would cost to rent a 2BR-2BA apartment at a nearby luxury apartment development. Being in a top school district commands a housing premium because it attracts aspirational renters and buyers.
We hope that having a fully-equipped 1,200 SF apartment/in-law suite on the terrace level (a/k/a walk-out basement) will turn out to be a source of income for us - or may provide us with a means by which to attract and house affordable live-in help rather than moving out and paying a continually-increasing (presently $100,000+ per year) cost for assisted living or nursing home care.
When I see the terrible conditions of many women all over the world, I think, “Wouldn’t they be better off being a servant in my household, since I have a nice cabin where they could live and could provide food and a small wage.”
With all the best intentions, “pro-labor” politicians have made it impossible for me to hire a live-in servant by mandating minimum wage even I provided food and shelter. I can’t afford a servant under those conditions. That’s a lose-lose situation since I don’t have help and a woman who could benefit from the work won’t have a job.
Wendy
With all the best intentions, “pro-labor” politicians have made it impossible for me to hire a live-in servant by mandating minimum wage even I provided food and shelter. I can’t afford a servant under those conditions. That’s a lose-lose situation since I don’t have help and a woman who could benefit from the work won’t have a job.
The US desperately needs to have an officially-sanctioned and duty-defined “Elder Au Pair” exchange program whereby foreign students and young adults can learn English and enjoy American living standards while providing food prep and personal care assistance to elderly hosts in return for a tax-free allowance and a pathway to permanent residence or American citizenship.
An au pair (/o?'p??r/; plural: au pairs) is a helper from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family’s responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a monetary allowance for personal use.
“Rising productivity in one industry not only drives higher wages in that industry, it puts upward pressure on wages across the economy.”
Rising productivity MAY driver higher wages, but that’s not necessarily the case – esp. if the rise was due to something initiated and paid for by the owners.