Better Measurements of Worth
How can we determine the worth of something, especially its historical worth? The price, even deflated for inflation, is not enough. Was Carnegie richer than Gates? Did Babe Ruth make more than Barry Bonds? Was the cost of a loaf of bread more then than now? The authors summarize a fascinating set of measures that attempt to make just such estimates. It depends on the context, they make clear. And they provide calculators on their Web site to enable users to make their own comparisons.