Comic #3342: 2014-07-12
Description
Here’s a detailed description of the comic, focusing on the text and scenes:
Panel 1
- A woman with a light brown complexion and dark, curly hair smiles. She is wearing a red top with a collar.
- Text: "It’s called 'Baumol’s cost disease.'"
Panel 2
- The same woman continues speaking, with an animated expression.
- Text: "The idea is this: some jobs become more productive over time due to technology and so are better paid. Other jobs, such as playing live music, or preaching, or sex work, do not change in productivity and yet somehow they pay better over time too."
Panel 3
- The woman is still speaking, gesturing with her hands.
- Text: "Baumol’s solution is that the musician’s pay is buoyed by the fact that he could become a computer programmer."
Panel 4
- Another character, a man with short, dark hair and a round face, appears, listening. The woman continues.
- Text: "Buyers of labor pay the musician extra to not change jobs."
Panel 5
- The woman looks cheerful and engaged.
- Text: "So, you see, we’re all connected! No financial action exists in a vacuum."
Panel 6
- The man looks skeptical and presses her for an answer.
- Text: "Are you going to give me a pay raise or not?"
Panel 7
- The woman appears slightly incredulous.
- Text: "And encourage prostitution? YOU MONSTER."
Footer
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