Home › Forums › Financial Markets/Economics › My Personal Credit Crisis
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May 18, 2009 at 7:42 AM #401708May 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM #401058daveljParticipant
[quote=sdrealtor][quote=CA renter]
For instance, which is better:-a well-built product that is three times as expensive, but last five times as long
OR
-a cheaply-made piece of plastic garbage that is one-third of the price, but has to be entirely replaced five times as often?
[/quote]When its the toys my kids play with and lose interest in after a few months, the clothes they quickly grow out of, the electronics that become functionally obsolute in a couple years I’ll take the later everytime. When its the car I purchase and own for 10+ years, the applainces for my home or the furniture in my house I’d be more likely to go with the former.
[/quote]Exactly, sdrealtor. And, CA Renter, here’s the problem… the more expensive, longer-lasting products are available to those that want them in virtually every product category. There’s a market for that stuff. But… in general, the masses don’t want them and won’t pay for them. That’s just a consumer reality. Personally I don’t want to force folks to pay for higher quality, more durable products if it’s not what they really want.
May 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM #401309daveljParticipant[quote=sdrealtor][quote=CA renter]
For instance, which is better:-a well-built product that is three times as expensive, but last five times as long
OR
-a cheaply-made piece of plastic garbage that is one-third of the price, but has to be entirely replaced five times as often?
[/quote]When its the toys my kids play with and lose interest in after a few months, the clothes they quickly grow out of, the electronics that become functionally obsolute in a couple years I’ll take the later everytime. When its the car I purchase and own for 10+ years, the applainces for my home or the furniture in my house I’d be more likely to go with the former.
[/quote]Exactly, sdrealtor. And, CA Renter, here’s the problem… the more expensive, longer-lasting products are available to those that want them in virtually every product category. There’s a market for that stuff. But… in general, the masses don’t want them and won’t pay for them. That’s just a consumer reality. Personally I don’t want to force folks to pay for higher quality, more durable products if it’s not what they really want.
May 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM #401542daveljParticipant[quote=sdrealtor][quote=CA renter]
For instance, which is better:-a well-built product that is three times as expensive, but last five times as long
OR
-a cheaply-made piece of plastic garbage that is one-third of the price, but has to be entirely replaced five times as often?
[/quote]When its the toys my kids play with and lose interest in after a few months, the clothes they quickly grow out of, the electronics that become functionally obsolute in a couple years I’ll take the later everytime. When its the car I purchase and own for 10+ years, the applainces for my home or the furniture in my house I’d be more likely to go with the former.
[/quote]Exactly, sdrealtor. And, CA Renter, here’s the problem… the more expensive, longer-lasting products are available to those that want them in virtually every product category. There’s a market for that stuff. But… in general, the masses don’t want them and won’t pay for them. That’s just a consumer reality. Personally I don’t want to force folks to pay for higher quality, more durable products if it’s not what they really want.
May 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM #401599daveljParticipant[quote=sdrealtor][quote=CA renter]
For instance, which is better:-a well-built product that is three times as expensive, but last five times as long
OR
-a cheaply-made piece of plastic garbage that is one-third of the price, but has to be entirely replaced five times as often?
[/quote]When its the toys my kids play with and lose interest in after a few months, the clothes they quickly grow out of, the electronics that become functionally obsolute in a couple years I’ll take the later everytime. When its the car I purchase and own for 10+ years, the applainces for my home or the furniture in my house I’d be more likely to go with the former.
[/quote]Exactly, sdrealtor. And, CA Renter, here’s the problem… the more expensive, longer-lasting products are available to those that want them in virtually every product category. There’s a market for that stuff. But… in general, the masses don’t want them and won’t pay for them. That’s just a consumer reality. Personally I don’t want to force folks to pay for higher quality, more durable products if it’s not what they really want.
May 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM #401748daveljParticipant[quote=sdrealtor][quote=CA renter]
For instance, which is better:-a well-built product that is three times as expensive, but last five times as long
OR
-a cheaply-made piece of plastic garbage that is one-third of the price, but has to be entirely replaced five times as often?
[/quote]When its the toys my kids play with and lose interest in after a few months, the clothes they quickly grow out of, the electronics that become functionally obsolute in a couple years I’ll take the later everytime. When its the car I purchase and own for 10+ years, the applainces for my home or the furniture in my house I’d be more likely to go with the former.
[/quote]Exactly, sdrealtor. And, CA Renter, here’s the problem… the more expensive, longer-lasting products are available to those that want them in virtually every product category. There’s a market for that stuff. But… in general, the masses don’t want them and won’t pay for them. That’s just a consumer reality. Personally I don’t want to force folks to pay for higher quality, more durable products if it’s not what they really want.
May 18, 2009 at 9:07 AM #401073daveljParticipant[quote=CA renter][quote=afx114]Average “lazy” worker productivity has constantly increased over the years:
Meanwhile, median family income compared to GDP has gone down steadily over time:
Meanwhile, the ratio of CEO to average worker pay has risen to levels not seen since before the Great Depression. I’d love to see this graph extend to 2009:
So to summarize: while workers have increased their productivity, their pay has stagnated — or even declined if you factor inflation. Meanwhile, management pay has skyrocketed. Has management’s pay increases been consistent with their productivity? It’s hard to tell — how do you measure CEO productivity? EPS?[/quote]
Once again, very well stated, afx114.
[/quote]
There are a couple of pieces missing here.
One, there’s no mention of the capital invested in plant, equipment and technology by the company that played the major role in increasing the workers’ productivity. To use auto workers as an example, I doubt the average auto worker from 2009 is considerably more productive than the same auto worker from 1985 without the updated equipment and technology. The same can be said of white collar workers with respect to computers. The difference being that the cost of computers and servers relative to the increased output of most white collar workers is smaller than the cost of tech/equipment relative to the increased output of an auto worker (or so I’ve read – I can’t vouch for this).
Two, does median family income include benefits? Again, to use the auto workers as an example. While the salaries aren’t that high, the benefits are enormous relative to base pay. Much higher than they are for most white collar folks. Think about government workers as well – same deal. So, I’d like to see the same chart, but adjusted for the value of retirement and health care benefits that most higher-earning folks don’t have.
May 18, 2009 at 9:07 AM #401324daveljParticipant[quote=CA renter][quote=afx114]Average “lazy” worker productivity has constantly increased over the years:
Meanwhile, median family income compared to GDP has gone down steadily over time:
Meanwhile, the ratio of CEO to average worker pay has risen to levels not seen since before the Great Depression. I’d love to see this graph extend to 2009:
So to summarize: while workers have increased their productivity, their pay has stagnated — or even declined if you factor inflation. Meanwhile, management pay has skyrocketed. Has management’s pay increases been consistent with their productivity? It’s hard to tell — how do you measure CEO productivity? EPS?[/quote]
Once again, very well stated, afx114.
[/quote]
There are a couple of pieces missing here.
One, there’s no mention of the capital invested in plant, equipment and technology by the company that played the major role in increasing the workers’ productivity. To use auto workers as an example, I doubt the average auto worker from 2009 is considerably more productive than the same auto worker from 1985 without the updated equipment and technology. The same can be said of white collar workers with respect to computers. The difference being that the cost of computers and servers relative to the increased output of most white collar workers is smaller than the cost of tech/equipment relative to the increased output of an auto worker (or so I’ve read – I can’t vouch for this).
Two, does median family income include benefits? Again, to use the auto workers as an example. While the salaries aren’t that high, the benefits are enormous relative to base pay. Much higher than they are for most white collar folks. Think about government workers as well – same deal. So, I’d like to see the same chart, but adjusted for the value of retirement and health care benefits that most higher-earning folks don’t have.
May 18, 2009 at 9:07 AM #401557daveljParticipant[quote=CA renter][quote=afx114]Average “lazy” worker productivity has constantly increased over the years:
Meanwhile, median family income compared to GDP has gone down steadily over time:
Meanwhile, the ratio of CEO to average worker pay has risen to levels not seen since before the Great Depression. I’d love to see this graph extend to 2009:
So to summarize: while workers have increased their productivity, their pay has stagnated — or even declined if you factor inflation. Meanwhile, management pay has skyrocketed. Has management’s pay increases been consistent with their productivity? It’s hard to tell — how do you measure CEO productivity? EPS?[/quote]
Once again, very well stated, afx114.
[/quote]
There are a couple of pieces missing here.
One, there’s no mention of the capital invested in plant, equipment and technology by the company that played the major role in increasing the workers’ productivity. To use auto workers as an example, I doubt the average auto worker from 2009 is considerably more productive than the same auto worker from 1985 without the updated equipment and technology. The same can be said of white collar workers with respect to computers. The difference being that the cost of computers and servers relative to the increased output of most white collar workers is smaller than the cost of tech/equipment relative to the increased output of an auto worker (or so I’ve read – I can’t vouch for this).
Two, does median family income include benefits? Again, to use the auto workers as an example. While the salaries aren’t that high, the benefits are enormous relative to base pay. Much higher than they are for most white collar folks. Think about government workers as well – same deal. So, I’d like to see the same chart, but adjusted for the value of retirement and health care benefits that most higher-earning folks don’t have.
May 18, 2009 at 9:07 AM #401614daveljParticipant[quote=CA renter][quote=afx114]Average “lazy” worker productivity has constantly increased over the years:
Meanwhile, median family income compared to GDP has gone down steadily over time:
Meanwhile, the ratio of CEO to average worker pay has risen to levels not seen since before the Great Depression. I’d love to see this graph extend to 2009:
So to summarize: while workers have increased their productivity, their pay has stagnated — or even declined if you factor inflation. Meanwhile, management pay has skyrocketed. Has management’s pay increases been consistent with their productivity? It’s hard to tell — how do you measure CEO productivity? EPS?[/quote]
Once again, very well stated, afx114.
[/quote]
There are a couple of pieces missing here.
One, there’s no mention of the capital invested in plant, equipment and technology by the company that played the major role in increasing the workers’ productivity. To use auto workers as an example, I doubt the average auto worker from 2009 is considerably more productive than the same auto worker from 1985 without the updated equipment and technology. The same can be said of white collar workers with respect to computers. The difference being that the cost of computers and servers relative to the increased output of most white collar workers is smaller than the cost of tech/equipment relative to the increased output of an auto worker (or so I’ve read – I can’t vouch for this).
Two, does median family income include benefits? Again, to use the auto workers as an example. While the salaries aren’t that high, the benefits are enormous relative to base pay. Much higher than they are for most white collar folks. Think about government workers as well – same deal. So, I’d like to see the same chart, but adjusted for the value of retirement and health care benefits that most higher-earning folks don’t have.
May 18, 2009 at 9:07 AM #401762daveljParticipant[quote=CA renter][quote=afx114]Average “lazy” worker productivity has constantly increased over the years:
Meanwhile, median family income compared to GDP has gone down steadily over time:
Meanwhile, the ratio of CEO to average worker pay has risen to levels not seen since before the Great Depression. I’d love to see this graph extend to 2009:
So to summarize: while workers have increased their productivity, their pay has stagnated — or even declined if you factor inflation. Meanwhile, management pay has skyrocketed. Has management’s pay increases been consistent with their productivity? It’s hard to tell — how do you measure CEO productivity? EPS?[/quote]
Once again, very well stated, afx114.
[/quote]
There are a couple of pieces missing here.
One, there’s no mention of the capital invested in plant, equipment and technology by the company that played the major role in increasing the workers’ productivity. To use auto workers as an example, I doubt the average auto worker from 2009 is considerably more productive than the same auto worker from 1985 without the updated equipment and technology. The same can be said of white collar workers with respect to computers. The difference being that the cost of computers and servers relative to the increased output of most white collar workers is smaller than the cost of tech/equipment relative to the increased output of an auto worker (or so I’ve read – I can’t vouch for this).
Two, does median family income include benefits? Again, to use the auto workers as an example. While the salaries aren’t that high, the benefits are enormous relative to base pay. Much higher than they are for most white collar folks. Think about government workers as well – same deal. So, I’d like to see the same chart, but adjusted for the value of retirement and health care benefits that most higher-earning folks don’t have.
May 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM #401089NicoleParticipantalarmclock–
I think perhaps your “personal experience” might be rooted in sexist thought, but that’s just been my personal experience when people make comments like this….reminds me of the ol’ story of adam and eve. How is it that somehow men hold so much of the economic power in this world, yet still people find a way to give women the blame. this is fascinating to me, honestly, no sarcasm meant.
May 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM #401339NicoleParticipantalarmclock–
I think perhaps your “personal experience” might be rooted in sexist thought, but that’s just been my personal experience when people make comments like this….reminds me of the ol’ story of adam and eve. How is it that somehow men hold so much of the economic power in this world, yet still people find a way to give women the blame. this is fascinating to me, honestly, no sarcasm meant.
May 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM #401572NicoleParticipantalarmclock–
I think perhaps your “personal experience” might be rooted in sexist thought, but that’s just been my personal experience when people make comments like this….reminds me of the ol’ story of adam and eve. How is it that somehow men hold so much of the economic power in this world, yet still people find a way to give women the blame. this is fascinating to me, honestly, no sarcasm meant.
May 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM #401629NicoleParticipantalarmclock–
I think perhaps your “personal experience” might be rooted in sexist thought, but that’s just been my personal experience when people make comments like this….reminds me of the ol’ story of adam and eve. How is it that somehow men hold so much of the economic power in this world, yet still people find a way to give women the blame. this is fascinating to me, honestly, no sarcasm meant.
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