"First of all, that was not the average paycheck. That was the median paycheck. There is big a difference, which you might want to look up."
Yea I remember learning the difference in fourth grade.
"Second, that was mid-career salary, as in after 15 years of experience in the field."
And?
"Third, as far as I could see the survey does not offer any information regarding the number of people who hold such degrees versus the number who are employed at any salary...let alone that one".
That's a fair point, although the fact is that if one gets a job surrounding an economics PHD then you have a 50 percent shot at getting one above 100 K a year (yes, I know it's not that simple for any specific individual but if we don't know any more about them then that's the case).
"What exactly is a "normal" person?"
People who fit broadly into the catagory of the 'average' American which is some college and about a fourth with a degree, much fewer with a PHD in any field.
"And I guess it would need to be made clear what kind of influence we're talking about."
It depends upon what kind of influence one works towards.
"I could say soccer players have influence and point to Pele single-handedly stopping a civil war in Nigeria. I could say agronomists have influence and point to Norman Borlaug. I could say destitute people have influence and point to Gandhi."
Yes, but if you want to take your chances of having influence then a degree in economics will undoubtedly boost your chances greatly, just as the degree and great footballing ability helped the two you mentioned to become influential, and Gandhi's education helped him to develope the message, drive, and eloquence, to be influential.
'Naming the extreme exceptions does not help support a claim about "average".'
"And for those two questions, I honestly don't see "bank & influence" being very accurate answers. Other than Krugman and his insane obsession with living in an Isaac Asimov novel, I honestly don't see many people looking for money and power saying "I know...I'll get a graduate degree in economics!"."
I think less of Student because he made this thread. In fact, I'm surprised this thread wasn't removed immediately after it was created.
The keyboard is mightier than the gun.
Non parit potestas ipsius auctoritatem.
Voluntaryism Forum
http://mises.org/Community/forums/t/6317.aspx
To paraphrase Marc Faber: We're all doomed, but that doesn't mean that we can't make money in the process. Rabbi Lapin: "Let's make bricks!" Stephan Kinsella: "Say you and I both want to make a German chocolate cake."
I didn't mean to imply that every thread must be serious - but I, for one, am certainly not amused by this thread.
Autolykos:I didn't mean to imply that every thread must be serious - but I, for one, am certainly not amused by this thread.
I don't think anyone is, or ever was for that matter. That's why it quickly got buried soon after it was created, until the creator decided to troll some more and bumped it a couple days ago, and it quickly got derailed...which is the only reason it is where it is now.
I'm seeing a lot of negative energy in a thread is only suppose to be about POSTIVE energy...directed at me...or the Fonz. Thank you for your cooperation.
Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine - Elvis Presley
Student,
I'm sure that I, and many others, are intensly curious as to which one of histories' greatest leaders you consider yourself to most thoroughly embody. If you had to choose:
Thanks for getting this thread back on track. But clearly there is a typo in your question. I'm sure what you meant to ask is which of these leaders most embody ME.
The answer of course is that I'm sure they all in my debt to some extent. Biden more than most. But mostly because I paid for his hair plugs.
Student is one of the smartest guys in this forum, and very very helpful. But what makes him the best is that he is not snobbish, unlike many other pricks over here. Cheers!
Aw shucks. You ain't gotta be sorry for liking sweet johnny. Sweet johny likes you too.