---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A study of the history of wages back…"
description: "\"A study of the history of wages back through the years indicates clearly that when the cost-of-living rises appreciably wages have shortly been adjuste..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg"
---

#  A study of the history of wages back through the years…

![“A study of the history of wages back through the years indicates clearly that when the cost-of-living rises appreciably wages have shortly been adjusted upward also.” quote by Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg)

> “A study of the history of wages back through the years indicates clearly that when the cost-of-living rises appreciably wages have shortly been adjusted upward also.”

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Wages tend to rise after the cost of living goes up, showing a lagged adjustment.

**In simple terms:** Wages follow cost‑of‑living increases.

Key Takeaway

Expect delayed wage hikes after inflation.

Themes

economics inflation labor markets

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

informative economic

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- salary negotiations
- cost‑of‑living adjustments

Key Concepts

price elasticity wage dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you protect yourself during wage lag?
- What policies could speed up wage adjustments?

A Different Perspective

Wage adjustments may lag behind rapid inflation, hurting purchasing power.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Wages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wages/)

## Related quotes

> [Getting adjusted regularly is part of my goal to win in life and on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/getting-adjusted-regularly-is-part-of-my-goal-to-win-in-life-and-on/)

[Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/)

> [I ma trying to feel more well adjusted than I really am, which is, I guess, the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-ma-trying-to-feel-more-well-adjusted-than-i-really-am-which-is-i/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [I've adjusted to this, that my books are not going to get unanimously good reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-ve-adjusted-to-this-that-my-books-are-not-going-to-get-unanimously/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [I've become completely well adjusted to being a cult figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-ve-become-completely-well-adjusted-to-being-a-cult-figure/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [I knew my limitations and the limitations of the courts I played on, and adjusted thusly. I was at my best in bad conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-knew-my-limitations-and-the-limitations-of-the-courts-i-played-on/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [Any time I hear 'border adjustment,' I don't love it. Because usually it means we're going to get adjusted into a bad deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mnuchin/any-time-i-hear-border-adjustment-i-don-t-love-it-because-usually-it/)

[Steve Mnuchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mnuchin/)

> [I'm very active in making sure my children are well-adjusted and balanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanna-moakler/i-m-very-active-in-making-sure-my-children-are-well-adjusted-and/)

[Shanna Moakler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanna-moakler/)

> [To know God is to be adjusted to daily living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/to-know-god-is-to-be-adjusted-to-daily-living/)

[Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/)

> [Every game I play, I get more experienced as well as feel more adjusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/every-game-i-play-i-get-more-experienced-as-well-as-feel-more-adjusted/)

[David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/)

> [I'm not an acting monk or anything. I'm not, like, the most well-adjusted actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-m-not-an-acting-monk-or-anything-i-m-not-like-the-most-well/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [I don't have an attitude! And it CERTAINLY... doesn't need to be adjusted!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-guerrero/i-don-t-have-an-attitude-and-it-certainly-doesn-t-need-to-be-adjusted/)

Vickie Guerrero

> [I had barely turned 12 when my parents packed me off to Doon School. I was transported to a world of confusion with 600…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/i-had-barely-turned-12-when-my-parents-packed-me-off-to-doon-school-i/)

[Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/)

> [These Americans are among the working poor with full-time jobs earning $5.15 an hour. Millions fall into this boat, even more when you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-kaptur/these-americans-are-among-the-working-poor-with-full-time-jobs/)

[Marcy Kaptur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-kaptur/)

> [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/)

[Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/)

> [I feel like I'm a relatively well-adjusted person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/i-feel-like-i-m-a-relatively-well-adjusted-person/)

[Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/)

## More by Charles E. Wilson

> [Many people do not realize that where unions have bargaining rights employers cannot raise wages or improve benefit plans any more than they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/many-people-do-not-realize-that-where-unions-have-bargaining-rights/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Costs of manufactured articles importantly depend on the cost of raw materials as well as labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/costs-of-manufactured-articles-importantly-depend-on-the-cost-of-raw/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Our thinking behind these agreements is that we want all jobs in General Motors to be good jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/our-thinking-behind-these-agreements-is-that-we-want-all-jobs-in/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [That the way to achieve higher standards of living for all is through science and technology, taking advantage of better tools, methods and organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/that-the-way-to-achieve-higher-standards-of-living-for-all-is-through/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Our expanding Canadian operations are concrete evidence of General Motors confidence in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/our-expanding-canadian-operations-are-concrete-evidence-of-general/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Our recent 5-year labour agreements, in Canada as well as the United States, are based upon experience, logic and principle rather than on pressure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/our-recent-5-year-labour-agreements-in-canada-as-well-as-the-united/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [The prices of raw materials do not fluctuate directly with the labour cost of producing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/the-prices-of-raw-materials-do-not-fluctuate-directly-with-the-labour/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [That co-operation and peace rather than industrial strife and strikes will best promote the prosperity of the employees the company and all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/that-co-operation-and-peace-rather-than-industrial-strife-and-strikes/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [No one should be so naive as to think that wages among organized groups will not be increased, under pressure if necessary, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-one-should-be-so-naive-as-to-think-that-wages-among-organized/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [Canada has great natural resources, and its people have the spirit and ability to develop them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/canada-has-great-natural-resources-and-its-people-have-the-spirit-and/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [The only sound approach to collective bargaining is to work out an agreement that clarifies the rights and responsibilities of the parties, establishes principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/the-only-sound-approach-to-collective-bargaining-is-to-work-out-an/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [If workmen are denied any increase in real wages and they can look forward only to a better standard of living through reduction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/if-workmen-are-denied-any-increase-in-real-wages-and-they-can-look/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [The thing that contributes to anyone's reaching the goal he wants is simple wanting that goal badly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/the-thing-that-contributes-to-anyone-s-reaching-the-goal-he-wants-is/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [No one should suffer from the great delusion that any form of communism or socialism which promotes the dictatorship of the few instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/no-one-should-suffer-from-the-great-delusion-that-any-form-of/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

> [In my fifty years of experience and memory, I have seen the most amazing increase in the standard of living of a people ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/in-my-fifty-years-of-experience-and-memory-i-have-seen-the-most/)

[Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

[Explore all 25 Charles E. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/)

## More Adjusted quotes

> [Getting adjusted regularly is part of my goal to win in life and on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/getting-adjusted-regularly-is-part-of-my-goal-to-win-in-life-and-on/)

[Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/)

> [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/)

[Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/)

> [These Americans are among the working poor with full-time jobs earning $5.15 an hour. Millions fall into this boat, even more when you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-kaptur/these-americans-are-among-the-working-poor-with-full-time-jobs/)

[Marcy Kaptur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-kaptur/)

> [I had barely turned 12 when my parents packed me off to Doon School. I was transported to a world of confusion with 600…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/i-had-barely-turned-12-when-my-parents-packed-me-off-to-doon-school-i/)

[Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/)

> [I don't have an attitude! And it CERTAINLY... doesn't need to be adjusted!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-guerrero/i-don-t-have-an-attitude-and-it-certainly-doesn-t-need-to-be-adjusted/)

Vickie Guerrero

> [I'm not an acting monk or anything. I'm not, like, the most well-adjusted actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-m-not-an-acting-monk-or-anything-i-m-not-like-the-most-well/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [Every game I play, I get more experienced as well as feel more adjusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/every-game-i-play-i-get-more-experienced-as-well-as-feel-more-adjusted/)

[David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/)

> [To know God is to be adjusted to daily living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/to-know-god-is-to-be-adjusted-to-daily-living/)

[Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/)

> [I'm very active in making sure my children are well-adjusted and balanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanna-moakler/i-m-very-active-in-making-sure-my-children-are-well-adjusted-and/)

[Shanna Moakler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanna-moakler/)

> [Any time I hear 'border adjustment,' I don't love it. Because usually it means we're going to get adjusted into a bad deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mnuchin/any-time-i-hear-border-adjustment-i-don-t-love-it-because-usually-it/)

[Steve Mnuchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mnuchin/)

> [I knew my limitations and the limitations of the courts I played on, and adjusted thusly. I was at my best in bad conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-knew-my-limitations-and-the-limitations-of-the-courts-i-played-on/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [I've become completely well adjusted to being a cult figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-ve-become-completely-well-adjusted-to-being-a-cult-figure/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [I've adjusted to this, that my books are not going to get unanimously good reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-ve-adjusted-to-this-that-my-books-are-not-going-to-get-unanimously/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [I ma trying to feel more well adjusted than I really am, which is, I guess, the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-ma-trying-to-feel-more-well-adjusted-than-i-really-am-which-is-i/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [I feel like I'm a relatively well-adjusted person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/i-feel-like-i-m-a-relatively-well-adjusted-person/)

[Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/)

Browse all 51 Adjusted quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A study of the history of wages back through the years indicates clearly that when the cost-of-living rises appreciably wages have shortly been adjusted upward also.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles E. Wilson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-through-the-years-indicates/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adjusted"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-through-the-years-indicates/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/charles-e-wilson-23915_adjusted_a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-thr_1921033.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A study of the history of wages back through the years indicates clearly that when the cost-of-living rises…” — Charles E. Wilson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles E. Wilson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A study of the history of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-through-the-years-indicates/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/a-study-of-the-history-of-wages-back-through-the-years-indicates/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
