> The economic value generated by doing a given job can go down over time, in which case a reduced wage is not really cheating anyone.
If that's the case, what's the problem with "actually paying the laborer less"? Why play a passive-aggressive game where you pay them something less in real value?
Basically it's a cheat that lets the employer avoid having tough conversations with labor. It also has secondary effects, like putting the entire society on a moving treadmill, encouraging consumption and economic destruction, eroding the power of social safety nets and charities, etc. etc. etc.
If that's the case, what's the problem with "actually paying the laborer less"? Why play a passive-aggressive game where you pay them something less in real value?
Basically it's a cheat that lets the employer avoid having tough conversations with labor. It also has secondary effects, like putting the entire society on a moving treadmill, encouraging consumption and economic destruction, eroding the power of social safety nets and charities, etc. etc. etc.