What price beauty?
Economists have developed several models to account for racial and gender discrimination in labor markets. But what about beauty? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Dan Hamermesh has written a number of papers investigating the impact of beauty on various labor market outcomes. Among his findings: Below-average looking men get paid about 9% less than plain looking men and above-average looking men get paid about 5% more than plain looking men. A similar wage penalty appears for below-average looking women and wage premium for above-average looking women. What's going on here? Are employers discriminating against ugly people? Hamermesh also finds that beautiful people sort themselves into different types of jobs compared to ugly people.
Following Hamermesh, a recent paper by Mocan and Tekin (kudos to Mahalanobis) argues that ugly people are more likely to sort themselves into a life of crime. Why do you suppose ugly people are more likely to end up as criminals? Does this mean that one way to reduce crime is to subsidize plastic surgery? (LOL)
6 comments:
Although I think we cant adjust a person only by his or her looking, beauty does make money. For example, if you are a good-looking man who work for insurance company, you may make more money than others because customers would believe that you are trustable at first sight. This kind of situation happens time to time.
Wouldn't it also be possible that those people who find themselves in the better paying jobs are more likely to, for lack of a better term, take better care of themselves? For example, wouldn't they be more likely to invest in better make-up, or even plastic surgery than someone who doesn't make much money? Likewise, those people who end up in a life of crime (I am assuming not white-collar crime) probably could not afford some of the better products that would help improve their looks.
As sad as it is to admit it, beauty= $$$$, and lots of it. Granted, brains can get one fairly far, but you would be AMAZED at what looks can do. Take Jessica Simpson as a prime example. The girl, God love her, was dumb as a box of rocks, but what made her show, The Newlyweds, so popular? She was gorgeous, that's what! Not to mention, when one has money they are able to invest in their looks to continue to look attractive. From plastic surgery to unlimited amounts of cosmetics, beauty is $$$ and if you are the smartest person for the job but are not the best looking one, you are likely to get booted due to mere physical attributes.
The correlation found by Hamermesh could be due to the fact that the individuals who are motivated to look good are also more motivated in general, and thus accomplish more. An analogous argument is made for the comparison of college grads and high-school grads potential (accomplishments/income); some believe college grads outperform high school grads to some extent merely because they are the more motivated individuals.
Everybody knows apperance is important when it comes to labour, after all you learn that in Interview 101. Does dressing nicer mean you will get paid more, i don't think so. From what i presive, you get paid, in most cases, based on your performance. you could easly argue that if your to lazy to clean yourself then you probably not working very hard either. Here's another thing to consider, if you are paid less you may not be able to afford nicer products. Adding to that, a person making steal usally dosn't come to work in a hand made prada suit, but that dosen't mean he's ugly, he just knows hes gonna get dirty so dresses for the occasion. honestly, would i be tempted to pay britney spaers more then i would my grandmother, you betcha. But if grandmas a damn a good worker Britney may have to take a pay cut. Overall looks do affect you pay, like i said a few sentences ago, you learn that in interview 101.
It is truely hard to say if good looks will get a person more money because who is able to honestly classify "good looks". I know many of my friends and I disagree on what a "good looking" girl is. Sure, there are the models and superstars that everyone would say are "good looking", but if we are talking about an everyday workforce who know what a boss or manager may see as "good looks". In my mind it is not so much about how you look but how you come across. I don't care how ugly someone is but if they walk into a job interview in a new suit, slicked hair, good smelling breath,and an attitude that says "you need me to work here!!", then I think they will be able to achieve that higher end scale of pay (or at least i hope so for all of us who are not supermodels).
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