"Twenty-five years ago you were more likely to find households with one wage earner, now for most people in most areas, its commonly accepted that it takes two wage earners to support a family [at a higher standard of living]."
Its true, 25 years ago we wouldn't be having this discussion on the internet, or making calls on a cell phone, but we did have color TV, cable TV (programming choices are greater, but quality is not), telephones and even answering machines, antibiotics, vaccinations, hot and cold running water, heat and air conditioners, most families I knew had two cars, we traveled by jet to places like Europe and Asia, and we ate well and healthy.
I don't think our standard of living has improved all that much, though prices have. For instance a friend and her husband purchased a very nice house for $100,000 in a prestigious area, its now worth $6 million (same house). I believe that's called inflation, not improved standard of living