Article: Working more to earn less; doctors say they're losing out
“If a doctor was paid $100 for a procedure in 1982, he would receive nearly $135 for that service now. But inflation has risen by 65 per cent over the same period, meaning that in fact that $135 is really worth only $81 and change, or a decline of 18.66 per cent.”
Doctors in Vancouver are highly unsatisfied with their wages. Most of them have to work extra hours and see extra patients just to make a comparable income due to inflation. "In the old days 20 years ago if I did a hysterectomy, it would buy a nice suit. Ten years ago, it would get me a decent sports jacket. Now it would just get me a classy pair of trousers." says obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr. John Turner who specializes in pregnancies. Although within Canada, doctors in B.C. are at the top of the scale in terms of wages compared to other provinces, its standard of living is also higher, and the aged population also puts more pressure on the medical system and its physicians. Doctors and physicians feel like they’re losing valuable leisure time all in the effort to catch up in their income. Many feel like they’re still falling behind after putting in the extra hours. "I am not one of those chosen doctors on the golf course on a Wednesday afternoon because I can't afford to. The only way you can survive now is to work longer hours and see more patients. You just feel like you’re on the treadmill all the time.” says Dr. Jack Burak, a family physician with 23 years of service. Being a doctor today, is definitely not as comfortable as being a doctor in the 80’s.
Relation to Chapter 5
This article is an example of Cost-Push Inflation. Since the standard of living in B.C. has gone up, there is a higher demand for wages in order to keep up with inflation. In the textbook, it says “Cost-push inflation is usually preceded by demand-pull inflation.” This could very well reflect the demand for residence in the lower mainland and other parts of B.C. which is causing the demand-pull inflation. In response to the increase in prices, employees and other working individuals then feel a need for an increase in salary to keep up with the economy. This portrays the type of dissatisfaction which occurs when the rate in inflation increases faster than the increase in wages.
