... it as a necessity or even a right. The subjective nature of such standard of life measures fits uneasily with more precise quantitative real wage measures. I hope to examine both real wage and non monetary evidence whilst answering this question, before examining the effects of two very differing revolutions on the relative standards of living in Britain and France. If real wages are taken to be an accurate measure of standards of living then almost all historians would agree that British workers enjoyed a higher standard of living than their French counterparts. Even O'Brien and Keyder admit that in some periods of the 19th century French real wages were 45% below those in Britain. These figures corroborate evidence from contemporary observers, such as Arthur Young, which suggested French real wages were lower than British ones. O'Brien and Keyder argue that real wages tell us very little about welfare standards, ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now