Graphs At A Glance: The cost of putting £1 into an employee's pocket in the UK is the fourth lowest of the 28 EU nations. Only Malta, Ireland and Cyprus are lower.

SOURCE: Paris School of Economics

Why have the wages of the 90% stagnated in Britain in recent decades? Is it because employment taxes make it too expensive for employers to pay us better?


An interesting graph from the "New Direction" foundation (founded by former prime-minister Baroness Thatcher) sheds some light. The graph from a 2014 report shows the cost to an employer of putting £1 into an employee's pocket - after income tax and National Insurance (employee's and employer's contributions) have been paid - is close to the lowest in Europe. Only Malta, Ireland and Cyprus are lower.

Perhaps the problem is we are already paid too much? Eurostat provides figures on this, showing that of the five largest EU nations, the UK's labour cost is at the bottom together with Spain.

So what is the reason 90% of Britons did not share in the "good years" before the Banking Crash? Answer the poll - you can select up to two answers. If you can think of another reason enter it in 'Other' (If it is a good one we will add it to the multiple choice).


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