[zeestephen]

Re: “In some cases the wages are not a valid indicator because a higher wage doesn’t necessarily reflect higher productivity. “

That is an indictment of business owners and business managers.

They cling to an out-of-date business model that cannot support current labor costs.

40 years ago, owners and managers would have increased capital spending or started a new business.

Today, owners and managers bribe politicians with campaign donations and beg the government to supply them with low cost foreign workers.

[Alberta's Child]

In many cases -- and the number grows all the time -- the disconnect between wages and productivity is a function of external intervention in the employer-employee relationship. I'll give you two examples: minimum wage laws and Obamacare.

How about a few more of them: Union contracts, prevailing-wage laws, and the Jones Act.