Propaganda thrives on emotional appeals and vague concepts, and one of its favorite tools is the idea of “fairness.” While fairness has a concrete meaning—justice based on clear principles—this term is often misused to justify harmful economic policies.  Wages, like any other price in a market, are determined by supply and demand.  When someone calls a wage “unfair,” it doesn’t mean fairness is subjective.  It means their understanding of economic reality is flawed.

Wages are prices—the price of labor.  Just as the price of goods signals where resources are most needed, wages signal where labor is most valued.  High wages in certain industries or roles don’t reflect “greed” or exploitation.  They reflect the scarcity of workers or the value of the work performed.  Interfering with wages, through minimum wage laws or arbitrary mandates, distorts these signals, leading to inefficiencies and unintended consequences.

Minimum wage laws harm low-skilled workers by pricing them out of the labor market.  A business faced with artificially inflated labor costs doesn’t simply “pass on the cost” to consumers.  If prices rise, demand falls.  To remain competitive, businesses must find other ways to adapt, often by cutting jobs, reducing quality, or automating roles.  The end result is fewer opportunities for workers, not better wages.

The narrative of “fairness” is particularly dangerous because it distracts from the real culprit behind many economic struggles: inflation.  Wages may seem stagnant, but this perception ignores the shrinking value of money.  As central banks increase the money supply, each dollar loses purchasing power.  The elites—those closest to the new money—benefit, while the average worker suffers.  The illusion of fairness serves as a convenient scapegoat, masking this deeper injustice.

The myth of fairness spreads both vertically, through elites who use it for political gain, and horizontally, through those who parrot it without question.  Like the term “price gouging,” it’s an emotive phrase meant to manipulate rather than enlighten.  When you hear it, ask yourself: who benefits from this narrative?  Rarely is it the workers it claims to protect.

Interfering with wages isn’t just economically misguided—it’s morally unjust.  Wages, as prices, reflect economic truths, not moral decrees.  Misunderstanding this reality disrupts the delicate balance of the market, leading to job losses, misallocated labor, and reduced opportunities.

Fairness is not subjective, but it can be misjudged.  Policies aimed at enforcing so-called fairness in wages often produce the opposite effect, harming the very people they claim to help.  Recognizing wages as prices helps demystify the propaganda and refocus attention on the true sources of economic hardship.