A perspective of wages and prices

by Henry Phelps Brown, Sheila V. Hopkins

First published in book form in 1981, this collection of essays originally written between 1955 and 1966 contains ground-breaking research and analysis on the study of wages and prices across seven centuries, with particular reference to builderâ s wage rates and the price of a bundle of the commodities on which these wages might be spent. These seminal contributions to the economics of labour and economic growth did much to fuel the debate surrounding the problems of inflation, stability and changes in the purchasing power of money upon the bookâ s initial publication. These concerns are every bit as relevant in todayâ s post credit-crunch society and this reissue will be welcomed by all students of economic history and labour economics.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 1981

Reviews

[Paul Baldowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly academic approach to the livelihood of the common man from the perspective of his buying power. Interesting for me to read a discussion of factors which might have generated change built upon the shopping basket of the common labourer or less craftsperson. I have recently read more general discussions about population growth, harvests, disease, technology and social upheaval in Tudor times, so I found it interesting reading an academic voice building up the evidence from a different viewpoint. By no means recommended for those seeking a light historical read, but to those interested in a wider historical background warrants a look (providing you can pick a copy up cheaply!).