This is from Charles H Smith's excellent blog http://www.oftwominds.com/blog.html (he gets peak oil though not quite fully I believe, a prescient writer none the less).

This is one of the reader comments

Charlie F.
BTW - In 1974, my Dad worked as a mid level production analyst in Manhattan for Mobil Oil. I believe he made $35K and with this amazingly low salary supported my sister at Washington U, four other children, my mom (who never worked outside of the home), and a 3,500 square foot house with a ¾ acre lot. He had two cars and no credit card debt and was building college funds for all of us. I am speechless thinking of the then and now difference.

CHS NOTE: $35K in 1974 equals about $150K in 2008 dollars. Still, how many households earn $150K and still can't afford what $35K bought in 1974?

Is what's happening these days a sign of declining NET energy per capita across the world?

Those countries which have recently experienced an increase in energy per capita have seen their living standards go up eg China and recently India (In the cities especially).

Sometimes the blog author talks of his time studying in Honolulu, Hawaii and how relatively inexpensive it was than.

Even in the the most expensive city in the U.S. in terms of cost-of-living, Honolulu, I was able to rent an old studio apartment for $120/month--$525 in today's dollars. My tuition and student fees at the University of Hawaii per semester was $117--$514 in today's dollars. Can you find an apartment in a high-cost city for $500 and go to a four-year state university for $500/semester (not including books of course)? No. Was the state or Federal government running stupendous deficits to provide this education? No.

Any words from TODer's who studied in the 60's, 70's and 80's? How was life back than?