Choosing the right pond
human behavior and the quest for status
by Robert H. Frank · first published 1985
3mentions
1recommended by
2HN commenters
2010–2011first – last mentioned
50% recommend50% neutral
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
…Materially we are better off than our ancestors but relatively speaking we are the same. Most people would prefer to have higher status than higher wealth. For details, I recommend the excellent book "Choosing the Right Pond: Human Behavior and the Quest for Status" by economist Robert H. Frank. http://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Right-Pond-Behavior-Status/dp... [1] There is no question that we are all materially better off…
on “When work doesn't pay for the middle class” ↗There is an entire book about this: Choosing the Right Pond: Human Behavior and the Quest for Status. http://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Right-Pond-Behavior-Status/dp... It's been a while since I read it, but it was quite interesting. The author presents an economic…
on “Economics focus: Don’t look down” ↗This is not just in the programming business. Highly productive employees are generally underpaid relative to their peers. In his book, "Choosing the Right Pond", the economist Robert H. Frank attributes this to status-seeking. Short version: the highly paid employee could make more elsewhere, but then they wouldn't be the the big fish in the small pond anymore.…
on “Why programmers are not paid in proportion to their productivity” ↗