Question

Should people typically pay more attention to their real income or their nominal income? If you choose the latter, why would that make sense in today's world? Would your answer be the same for the 1970 s?

Short answer

In conclusion, people should typically pay more attention to their real income rather than their nominal income, as it provides a more accurate representation of their purchasing power and ability to maintain or improve their living standards. This is true in today's world due to the continuous changes in cost of living and the effects of inflation on prices of goods and services. The same principle applied in the 1970s during the period of stagflation, where focusing on real income was essential to understand and cope with the rapid increase in prices. Therefore, real income offers a better reflection of an individual's true economic well-being in the face of inflation.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the difference between real income and nominal income

Real income is the income that is adjusted for inflation, while nominal income is the income that is not adjusted for inflation. In other words, real income reflects the actual purchasing power of the income, whereas nominal income represents the amount of money received, without considering the effects of inflation on the purchasing power.

Discuss the importance of considering inflation

Inflation reduces the purchasing power of money, so as the prices of goods and services increase, the purchasing power of a given amount of income decreases. If people focus only on their nominal income, they might not realize that their actual purchasing power is decreasing due to inflation. Therefore, paying attention to real income gives a more accurate picture of the true value of the income and its ability to satisfy the needs and wants in the current economic environment.

Explain the relevance of real income in today's world

In today's world, it is more sensible for people to pay attention to their real income rather than their nominal income. This is because the cost of living and the prices of goods and services are continuously changing due to various economic factors, including inflation. So, if people want to maintain or improve their living standards and purchasing power, they need to focus on their real income, as it will give them a more accurate picture of their ability to afford goods and services and compare income levels over time.

Compare the situation to the 1970s

In the 1970s, the world experienced a period of high inflation, known as stagflation, where prices of goods and services were increasing at a rapid pace, while economic growth was sluggish. During this period, it was also crucial for people to focus on their real income, as the nominal income did not provide an accurate representation of their purchasing power. By taking inflation into account, people could have a better understanding of their actual ability to afford goods and services and maintain their living standards during that time. From the analysis, we can conclude that people should typically pay more attention to their real income rather than their nominal income, both in today's world and during the 1970s, as it better reflects their true economic well-being and purchasing power in the face of inflation.