
18/09/2024
Increase Wages: A Solution to Inflation?
In as much as increase wages or multiple sources of income might be a way of staying afloat of inflation, it can never and will never solve the problems of inflation. Having more money (increase wages) without a matching increase in the productive or real sectors of the economy is actually one of the causes of inflation. What we see as a solution to inflation, if critically analyzed, is actually one of the problems of inflation. It is likened to a vicious circle of poverty. When more money pursues fewer goods, it will lead to increase prices, increase prices will lead wage earners to demand for increase wages, and the circle continues without a solution.
Recently, a new minimum wage bill was signed into law, while wage earners were about celebrating the new development, boom! pump price was increased. If the mathematics is done, it will be seen that the purchasing power of money before the new minimum wage might be more than what it is now, considering commodities price realties.
Government should know that the real/productive sector is the battle grown to fight inflation.
- Instead of increasing wages, why can't they be committed to fighting insecurity, to allow people to be productive.
- Instead of increasing wages, why don't they be committed to building infrastructure, which oils the wheel of productivity in the economy.
- Instead of increasing wages, which will end in importation, why don't they encourage domestic production and discourage over dependent on importation.
- Why don't they fight monopolies where they exist, to make the market competitive, in order to drive down prices.
If a 20years data on prices is compared or plotted against the minimum wage increases, the hidden and painful reality is the decreasing purchasing power of money over these years. If we like, let's have 100 sources of income or have our wages increase multiple times in a year, we will only wear and tear ourselves out. If this circle is not broken, the country will remain relatively stagnant as it has been over the years.
Mfoniso