Actually, the math you’re quoting is a bit misleading. Cratchit did earn 15 shillings a week, but converting that to modern U.S. dollars isn’t straightforward. Simple inflation calculations like “$530/week → $13.50/hr” ignore things like typical work hours in Victorian England (often far longer than 40/week) and changes in living standards. Some estimates put his pay closer to $21/hr if you assume a 40‑hour week, but realistically, accounting for actual hours worked, his effective hourly rate might be much lower. So comparing it directly to modern minimum wage isn’t really accurate.
Actually, the math you’re quoting is a bit misleading. Cratchit did earn 15 shillings a week, but converting that to modern U.S. dollars isn’t straightforward. Simple inflation calculations like “$530/week → $13.50/hr” ignore things like typical work hours in Victorian England (often far longer than 40/week) and changes in living standards. Some estimates put his pay closer to $21/hr if you assume a 40‑hour week, but realistically, accounting for actual hours worked, his effective hourly rate might be much lower. So comparing it directly to modern minimum wage isn’t really accurate.