Real and nominal wages

Wages are wanted only for what they will buy, real wages being wages in terms of the goods and services that can be bought with them.  Nominal wages are wages in terms of money, and the term money wages is perhaps to be preferred.  In determining nominal wages of people in different occupations; account must be taken of payments in kind, such as free uniform for policemen, railway workers and may others, free travel to and from work for those engaged in the passenger transport undertakings, the use of the car by some business executives, free board and lodging for some hotel workers and nurses.

" The labourer", say Adam Smith, "is rich or poor, is well or ill rewarded, in proportion to the real, not to the nominal price of his labour."