I’m not talking about human behavior so much as about market structure. You go with the best offer that you get. If 3/4 is the best offer because your employer

I’m not talking about human behavior so much as about market structure. You go with the best offer that you get. If 3/4 is the best offer because your employer has driven labor-market competition out of town or because there wasn’t much competition in town to begin with (think Walmart or Amazon warehouses), then you need to take 3/4 or else be unemployed. Savings help you for a while but if you’re like most workers, eventually you’ll need a job again. But I think you’re also right in that inflation helps employers lower wages without being upfront about it.