comma btw subject and verb: countries whose wage levels..., are

[SunnyS]

This unfair competition is induced by the fact that countries whose wage levels are extremely low, are catching up with developed countries concerning their productivity;

My question is: do I need to put the comma after low? I don't know if it's necessary.

 

[sandpiperlily]

I'd say that the comma is not just unnecessary -- it's distracting.

 

[SunnyS]

Thank you!

 

[Matching Mole]

"Countries whose wage levels are extremely low" is the subject of the verb phrase "are catching up": the relative phrase is essential (or defining) to the subject, so putting a comma there is like putting a comma between a subject and a verb, which we should not do.

It's a bit like:
"People whose habits are annoying, are not very popular"; I think it's easy to see that this is incorrect.

 

[SunnyS]

Yes, thanks.