1. The only group that showed an increase in real wages from 1973-97 was the college plus group. All other groups showed declines. The real increase from 1989-97 for the college educated did not make up the loss from the prior period. There was a net loss for this group for the entire period.
2. Your graph does not show a drop in the rate of increase - it shows that real wages are lower now than they were in 1973.
3. Grow up.
"Your graph does not show a drop in the rate of increase - it shows that
real wages are lower now than they were in 1973."
Really? Let's take a look at what the author wrote. Again.
Average hourly earnings in private, nonagricultural business increased in real terms by about 16 percent during the past 40 years . . . .
Say, do you have any figures for paraplegics during this period? [hoot]