In the article, the author reflects on a previous assertion regarding the growth of Brazil's real minimum wage over the past 30 years, juxtaposing it with stagnant labor productivity. Reader Isabel Pitta responds, highlighting a significant decline in the real minimum wage from the 1950s to the early 1990s, and questions the author's interpretation of historical data. This pointed critique underscores a broader historical context that the author seems to overlook.

The dialogue with the reader reveals the complexities involved in discussing wage policies in Brazil, particularly the comparison of past economic conditions under leaders such as Vargas and João Goulart with the current economic climate. Isabel Pitta's input suggests that there is a need to account for fluctuations in the labor market and wage policies that have impacted workers' livelihoods throughout the decades. This criticism enhances the original argument by emphasizing the importance of analyzing wage growth within the historical fluctuations of economic policies.

Furthermore, the author acknowledges the validity of Pitta's comment, conceding that there was indeed a significant drop in the real minimum wage from 1960 until the early 1990s. The ongoing discussion relates to the sustainability of minimum wage policies, particularly in light of the gap between productivity growth and wage increases, indicating that the current economic structures and policies may be inadequate to support a solid minimum wage moving forward.