I was chuckling today-

I listened to this programme on radio 4 on my way round to Helensburgh- ‘Can pay will pay‘- examining the factors that seem to influence the amount that we earn.

I was slightly interested, as the whole wage slaving issue has been a theme of recent contemplation.

There were however some interesting facts. The average full time wage in this country is around £27K pa- but if you earn more, you will tend to overestimate this, and if you earn less, will underestimate.  Only 10 per cent earn more than £50K pa. The old regional variations continue- the average in some parts of the country is around £15K pa.

Slightly more bizarre are some of the other things that correlate with earning more or less.

For every inch over around 5 foot 7 inches, you will earn on average around a thousand pounds extra per year. As you can see from the dine figure I cut on the photo above, I am 6 feet five inches tall.

Woohoo, my ship may yet come in!

Unfortunately, ugly people will earn on average 20% less. The programme quoted a study amongst prostitutes, where ugliness will clearly affect your earning power- but surprisingly, no more than the average for the rest of the population- still around 20%. Interestingly, beautiful people do not seem to earn more, the effect is only if you are ugly.

Ah well, you gain with one hand and loose with the other…