An actual cut in the nominal wage is viewed as a loss and is therefore unfair, whereas failing to keep up with inflation is judged acceptable since the nominal wage is still going up. This is one of many reasons why some economists (including me) felt that central banks should have been willing to tolerate a bit more inflation after the financial crisis. Even 3% inflation might have allowed firms to effectively cut real wages enough to speed the jobs recovery that has been so slow in most of the world.
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