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Shouldn't economics sort them out You know the old saying that markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent? http://danluu.com/tech-discri

Shouldn't economics sort them out You know the old saying that markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent? http://danluu.com/tech-discrimination/ http://danluu.com/tech-discrimination/ It’s true that markets have impose a cost on firms that discriminate. In the long run, that can put pressure on firms that discriminate, but as we’ve seen, that timescale can easily be longer than half a century. In other words, a generation or more can pass while the discrimination continues. If you're OK with that -- and with the risk that it can happen to you! -- then you're OK with it. If not, consider that sometimes the market needs change forced upon it. Also, tech companies "lean young" primarily because younger employees A) earn less B) put up with more mistreatment.

hn_throwaway_99 9y ago
But your last sentence basically obliterates the reasoning behind the rest of your post: > Also, tech companies "lean young" primarily because younger employees A) earn less B) put up with more mistreatment. That's kind of the point. Companies aren't acting based on irrational discrimination, they are trying to get more output for less money, and if they can pay employees less and work them harder (what you refer to as "mistreatment"), then it's an economic advantage for them.
- bergie 9y ago
  > then it's an economic advantage for them. Breaking laws can be lucrative, of course. At least until you're caught.
  - lithos 9y ago
    Getting caught is a cost of doing business.
- ubernostrum 9y ago
  But your last sentence basically obliterates the reasoning behind the rest of your post: I believe overworked/underpaid/mistreated people are cheaper to employ in the short term, but I don't believe that offsets the decreased effectiveness of them being, well, overworked, underpaid and mistreated.
  - taneq 9y ago
    That's why you swap 'em out regularly.
jstanley 9y ago
So which is it? Is the market irrational, or are employers getting away with more "mistreatment" and lower wages if they hire younger people?
- ubernostrum 9y ago
  If you believe people who are overworked and underpaid are more effective, you're free to believe that.

hn_throwaway_99 9y ago

But your last sentence basically obliterates the reasoning behind the rest of your post: > Also, tech companies "lean young" primarily because younger employees A) earn less B) put up with more mistreatment. That's kind of the point. Companies aren't acting based on irrational discrimination, they are trying to get more output for less money, and if they can pay employees less and work them harder (what you refer to as "mistreatment"), then it's an economic advantage for them.

bergie 9y ago
> then it's an economic advantage for them. Breaking laws can be lucrative, of course. At least until you're caught.
- lithos 9y ago
  Getting caught is a cost of doing business.
ubernostrum 9y ago
But your last sentence basically obliterates the reasoning behind the rest of your post: I believe overworked/underpaid/mistreated people are cheaper to employ in the short term, but I don't believe that offsets the decreased effectiveness of them being, well, overworked, underpaid and mistreated.
- taneq 9y ago
  That's why you swap 'em out regularly.

jstanley 9y ago

So which is it? Is the market irrational, or are employers getting away with more "mistreatment" and lower wages if they hire younger people?

ubernostrum 9y ago
If you believe people who are overworked and underpaid are more effective, you're free to believe that.