here is the blog entry
Friday, May 01, 2009
Hyperwage Theory is 7 Years Old Today
The idea for Hyperwage Theory came to me sometime in 1995 when I was working among US and British expatriates in Hong Kong and was assigned to several world capitals (New York, London, etc) as a result.
The central idea of course is Purchasing Power to the lowest worker. However, at the time, I did not have the full backing of economic principles to back up my discovery. Since then I have read many textbooks and history of economics with the eye of somebody going against conventional economic wisdom.
The first time I wrote about Hyperwage Theory (it was not called Hyperwage Theory then) was on May 2, 2002 in my BusinessWorld column. That was the Part 1.
Therefore, officially, Hyperwage Theory is 7 years old today.
However, part 2 was actually written in 2005 (three years after Part 1). It was in Part 2 that I settled on the name Hyperwage Theory.
I actually wanted to call it "High Purchasing Power Theory" but this phrase was too wieldy, too long, too generic, and lacking the originality of an freshly invented word. And people will be referring to it as HPPT Theory?
I settled on Hyperwage Theory although this term alone scares away first time readers.
I figured, Hyperwage is a controversial term, but, hey, I invented it and its catchy and short.
Part 1 by itself is self-contained, it described the theory and principles behind the theory. It should prove to be self-evident.
Part 2 and the series was serialized for 33 weeks (whew!) in 2005 and the series was the detailed explanation of the basic tenets mentioned in Part 1.
For all intents and purposes, the economic policy makers and the government executives were exposed to Hyperwage Theory in 2005 (four years ago).
Hyperwage Theory made the term "purchasing power" fashionable, and I am happy that I achieved my first goal with my theory, and that is "awareness."
And you can read so many accounts purporting to debunk Hyperwage Theory but look at their arguments: Do they stand on solid ground or are they just repeating the ideas of the authors of textbooks.
And why do Third World people still line up at US embassies looking for that golden visa if not in search of Hyperwage?
As long as they cannot answer you that with common sense, don't easily believe those detractors. They are not saying anything new, they are repeating the same economic ideas that have perpetrated and actually worsened the poverty conditions in Thirld World countries.
Keep these in mind as your read the articles of the opponents of Hyperwage. (But remember, the government and the politicians have started to catch on: Purchasing Power is not a popular soundbite for them. Isn't that a signal, they are beginning to see the value of Hyperwage Theory?)
Now, Hyperwage Theory has become a byword, (the butt of jokes), and Purchasing Power is the economic jargon of the times.
Have you heard about "consuming power", "spending powers" "buying power" spoken by the senators, congressmen and economic advisers to the President?
Before 2005, purchasing power was hardly a word, they uttered.
Now, that they have dipped their feet in the pool, are they ready for US$1.50 per hour (or P20,000 per month) salary for the domestic helpers?
Whatsoever you do to the least of your workers, you do unto the economy.
Posted by Street Strategist at 6:49 PM![]()
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Labels: BusinessWorld, domestic helper, Hyperwage Theory, maids, Philippines, purchasing power, spending power
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ang pagsolve sa poverty.
y not invite investors that use our natural resources here in our country bt also have programs of rehabilitating it. kai kun ang investors kai mag import pa sa ilang raw materials. sa labor jud nila i.hapak ang gasto. mao na atong labor is very cheap. as i watch kalye of abs-cbn. callcenter though is not really helping the economy althought it gives jobs to most and y man dagku ilang sweldo kai wala may gasto in raw materials. so if we have investors who can find raw materials especially in the phils itself murag ang atong mga wage would be better than wat we have right now.
especially the OFWS... inig balik nila unsay assurance naa sila work? our export business is pretty low... we depend so much on imports that why we are poor..
bisan steel nalang na kaugalingon wala ta.. maypa nag korea even INdia naa kaugalignon kompanya manufacture ug sasakyan.. wala gyud ta dinhi...
I'm hoping that Foolonthehill can address this hypothetical situation: A person on a fixed retirement income rents a house for 20,000p per month. This renter employs 2 helpers @ 4,000p each per month. The renter would be expected (with Hyperwage Theory) to boost each helper's salary to 20,000p per month? Let's see, that's 20,000p for the rent, and then 40,000p in salary for the helpers? But wait, the guy who OWNS the house and rents it out for 20,000p now has to pay each of HIS helpers 20,000p per month (he has 3, so that's 60,000p per month)... To cover the increased salaries, will he: A.) raise the rent 2X or 3X on the poor renter? or will he: B.) fire 2 of his helpers, keeping 1 because that's all he can afford... And will the renter move out of the house and into an affordable pension house, firing both helpers? No wait, there won't be any "affordable" pension houses because the staff of maids, cleaners, security guards, receptionists and the handyman will all receive salaries of 20,000p per month. The 18,000p per month room will jump to 50,000p per month to cover the huge salary increases. Is this a successful Hyperwage Theory scenario?
I just thought of something in regards to the high salary levels in the USA.. There are some real drawbacks.. Those high salaries are the main reason why so many businesses end up employing illegal aliens (usually Mexican) in the workforce. Why pay a moving company $100 PER HOUR for 4 guys to move your furniture when you can easily hire 4 Mexican laborers ALL DAY for the same $100 bucks? It's no small wonder so many American-based companies closed their doors and began outsourcing many years ago. In fact, you rarely see a label saying, "Made IN USA" anymore. Why? In many cases, paying American workers became too expensive for the businesses to remain profitable. And what could be the reason for the existence of so many call centers outside of the USA? Boosting wages sounds like a great idea, but be prepared for the unintended consequences that lurk ahead... Kinda sounds like what the union organizers used to preach... What good is having a high salary if the company can no longer afford you and you end up losing your job?
one thing that can slowly and surely solve the issue. proper education.
unsaon gi commercialized man sad pag maayo ang education karon. atay nalang.
simple problem, simple solution
In the book, this is fully discussed!
In general, when you are faced with an increase in costs, here are the options
1. Increase selling price (your renter who is an engr will be earning P200 per month!!)
2. Increase volume of sales (cant do anything for apartment)
3. Increase efficiency (computerize etc
4. Get out of business (dont worry somebody else will replace you; did companies go out biz bec gasoline rose 3x from P20 to P60?)
Use the above formula for your problem below...
1. are there bakeries in Paris
2. are there fish vendors in Singapore
3. are there newspaper sellers in London?
If Hyperwage will be realized I will apply as a driver for foolonthehill. Perhaps she'll pay me 40K a month then I have free board and lodging, tax free, etc. That would be a life. Hahahah
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