Posted on 04/07/2005 2:11:34 PM PDT by srm913
Why wasn't I born rich instead of handsome? Or so the lament goes.
But the nation's central bank now says that if you're gorgeous, chances are better that you will get paid more than plain folks.
Analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis suggests that good-looking people tend to make more money and get promoted more often than those with average looks. The analysis is published in the April edition of The Regional Economist, the Fed's quarterly magazine.
Research analyst Kristie Engemann and economist Michael Owyang looked at the possible link between appearance and wages by evaluating previous surveys and research. Their conclusion: It helps to be tall, slender and attractive.
Less clear was whether the less attractive are victims of bias, or if good-looking people tend to develop self-confidence and social skills that simply enhance their marketability.
"It doesn't seem like anti-discrimination laws, even if you enforce them strictly, would be a magic bullet," Owyang said.
The researchers cited one study that found a "plainness penalty" of 9 percent in wages - meaning a person with below-average looks tended to earn 9 percent less than those with average looks - and a "beauty premium" of 5 percent.
A study concerning weight showed that women who were obese earned 17 percent lower wages than women of average weight.
Height matters, too, the researchers believe. One study looked at the height of 16-year-olds and the wages they earned later as adults. The taller teens went on to earn an average of 2.6 percent more per additional inch of height.
"Maybe they developed extra confidence early on that their shorter counterparts didn't have," Engemann said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."
Ha Ha!
I'm ugly but I'm well paid.
No way, Laz. How could a ladies' man like you be ugly? ;^)
And they get "lucky" more often too.
I make up for my ugliness with incredible personality.
Quick: I demand a Congressional investigation...especially, since - if the photos during last election of DUers are any indication - it's the blue staters that are being discriminated against :o)
Agreed.
Incredible being the operative term. ;^)
LOL
I'm ugly AND have a strange personality. No wonder I'm poor, LOL.
Beauty may only be skin deep but good pay goes straight to the bank!
If that's the case, then Helen Thomas should be on welfare.
No wonder DU'ers and Feminazis are the most miserable people!
I'm gonna get my belt sander and go level the playing field a bit....
Marry me and we can have some really hideous kids together.
Of course there is the exception to the rule...we can call it the "Bill Gates exception"
This seems inconsistent with what I have observed. Many of the richest people I know are short, ugly, bald guys.
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