Tall people earn more because they’re smarter, it turns out.
Over the years, a number of studies have demonstrated that tall people get paid more; for two people doing an identical job, the taller one gets an average of 2% more money per extra inch.
The study referenced in the Slate article, though, shows that tall people tend to do better on standard tests of intelligence, including tests of visual-motor coordination, vocabulary, and cognitive maturity. Height, basically, may be a sign of a difference that results in pay disparity, rather than the cause of the salary difference.
I have a question though: if tall people are smarter, and tend to be in decision-making positions in their professional lives, how come so many of them have chosen to install shower heads that are just too damn low? (Fortunately, my new apartment doesn’t have that particular issue, but so many of them do (Thayer Hall, I’m looking at you…))
In any case, it’s an interesting article, and worth a look. And Jeffy, I’m really sorry, man. You may have mad ups, but I’m not sure that’s enough in this case…
September 5th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
damn straight.
September 6th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Have you read the study that says that lefties make more than average?
http://www.slate.com/id/2147842/?nav=ais
“lefties with college education earned 10 to 15 percent more than their right-handed counterparts.”
2%? I laugh at your two percent. MUahahahahahaha!
September 6th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
But it would be so much better to be pgw at the moment. I mean, lefty and 6’5″ or something?
I wonder if there’s a multiplier effect? If so, good thing. Human Rights law isn’t exactly known as a lucrative field…
September 6th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
whoa..so do i get to add the 15 to my 2? sorry, jeff, i’ve just got wealth in the genes. just watch as i use my left hand to magically erase my debt..
September 11th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
Hey, what about me? Not only am I tall and left-handed, but I’m also MUCH better looking than PGW…
September 14th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
alas, psychologists report that while relative wealth is significant in determining overall happiness, looks are unrelated. evidently people such as myself are able to adapt to their freakish appearance. plus i’ve got like seven inches on all y’all. just saying.