Jennifer Lopez or Jenny from the block???

Topic: Why does Sean Connery earn so much more for his work than a short-order cook if even though the cook's work is much harder and boring than Connery's?



Money is one of the most important things in our life.
Some people, however, avoid confessing it. Even when choosing a job they just cheat the opposite side by saying “Salary, is not much necessary” and they count some “crucial for them” factors. It’s nonsense. Majority of people tend to choose the high-paid work rather than getting wage sufficient only for their consumer basket. But why do different people earn different amount of wage? Why does one have a number of mansions, automobiles, etc., whereas the other can hardly afford?
Of course, there are some major factors creating this gap. People get paid more, relative to others, because of their higher professional skills, higher university degrees, at the same time a reason may be a difficult or dangerous working conditions, etc. But the most interesting one of the mentioned factors is “superstar phenomenon”. If you are a superstar, then you are a winner as well in terms of your earning capacity. Now a question arises: Can every worker become a superstar?
Not surely. Superstar phenomenon especially arises in entertainment industry; however there are some exceptions such as well-known doctor, auditor, accountant etc. But superstar actors, singers, footballers, tennis players are more common and sound much better. Because such kind of workers provide service to unlimited number of costumers called audience, since they are promoted via mass media. Therefore superstars are rewarded by enormous number of customers for their negligible labor. Furthermore, if we take into account die-hard fans being ready to pay incredibly high amounts for their idol’s service, we would clearly see why there is such a huge gap between superstars’ and “ordinary” workers’ earnings.
In my opinion, it’s a kind of discrimination although is not called like that. Moreover, “superstar phenomenon” particularly ignores some other determinants of wage difference like compensating differentials: It’s not fair that, people, spending a little labor and time on their job, surrounded by bodyguards, enjoying a high working condition and popularity get paid at significantly higher prices compared to those toiling over entire year since no promotion exists. However another determinant of wage difference is included as well. If we take an example from real life, Jenny, poor girl, hardly affording by working as a waitress some years ago, is now one of the most shining superstars in the world and makes a millions of dollars a year by just enjoying her lovely job. Doubtless, she is a very talented actress and doing her job professionally. But is every capable person able to be a superstar? No, actually. Here, chance, another determinant of wage difference plays a particularly important role. Another interesting fact is that, most people pay very high price for a superstar’s concert ticket, just because of popularity signaling. It does not so fear for entertainment industry, but when considering other industries, such as medicine, signaling may threaten to serious health problems for customers attracted by promotion of “superstar” doctor.