AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Even though nominal wages rose slightly, workers were not necessarily better off because of the following key factor:
Real wages fell due to rising prices. During periods like the prolonged Napoleonic Wars, prices rose sharply, so the same wages could buy fewer goods. This means the real value of earnings declined significantly.
Additionally, employment was seasonal and irregular. The income of workers depended not just on the wage rate but on the number of days actually employed. Long periods without work meant annual earnings remained very low despite a slightly higher daily wage rate.
Source: Chapter 4, Section 2.1 – Life of the Workers
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The examiner expects students to distinguish between nominal wages (the wage rate on paper) and real wages (purchasing power) and also highlight irregular/seasonal employment as the second critical factor. Both points come directly from the passage: "Wages increased somewhat… But they tell us little about the welfare of the workers… real value of what workers earned fell significantly… What was also critical was the period of employment." Do not just say "prices rose" — link it clearly to purchasing power/real wages for full marks.