162
Paystub from a US coal miner in 1942. Ends up owing his employer $1.84 ($35.76 in 2023) at the end of the pay period.
(lemmygrad.ml)
What do we call this? Early stage capitalism? What the Western world is on track to return to? Forshadow capitalism?
This is when miners were paid in company currency and lived in company houses and shopped at a company store.
Due to inelasticity of demand and artificially limited supply, the things we need to live will always cost all of the money that you can make, and there will never be enough of them for everyone to buy.
Also, they have no incentive to make it available for everyone because limiting supply is how they profit.