Abstract (Translated):
Despite being studied for decades, the debate on pre-modern standards of living and real wages is constantly being reevaluated and expanded. This article contributes to the debate by using new data and providing a novel perspective on existing data for the Austrian cities of Vienna, Salzburg and Rattenberg. First, we discuss the real wages of the three cases in comparison. Second, we propose a more nuanced approach when calculating real wages: Based on Robert Allen's work, we have constructed modified consumer baskets that are region-specific, change over time and include previously undervalued expenditures such as energy and housing. Finally, we place the new long-term real wage series for the Austrian cities in the context of European real wage data and the "Little Divergence" debate.