Final answer:
From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, U.S. productivity growth slowed, and while nominal wages increased, real wage gains were limited by inflation and slow productivity. Exact figures for the rise of real wages from 1979-84 are not provided, but the context suggests modest increases given the economic conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'how much was the rise in real wages of workers 1979-84?' relates to the economic history of the United States in regard to worker wages and productivity. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. experienced significant economic changes. Specifically, from 1973 to 1982, productivity growth, measured as output per hour of U.S. workers in the business sector, slowed down dramatically from an annual rate of 3.3% from 1960 to 1973 to only 0.8% in the following period.
This unexpected slowdown in productivity growth led to a situation where wages continued to rise despite the demand for labor not increasing, as businesses were no longer willing to hire at previously rising wage levels. This resulted in increased unemployment rates, which did not fall below 7% from May 1980 until 1986.
While detailed annual data for wage increases between 1979 and 1984 specifically is not provided here, the context indicates that wage increases during the early 1980s did not align with the slower gains in productivity and likely saw adjustments that could have tempered real wage growth. Inflation also played a role, with significant price increases occurring over the 1980s. Thus, while nominal wages might have risen, real wage gains, which account for inflation, were likely much more modest, especially considering the impact of inflation and slow productivity growth during this period.