A few thoughts: I understand the theories, but the real world doesn't operate that way; the market isn't free. Income depends to a significant degree on the ab

A few thoughts: I understand the theories, but the real world doesn't operate that way; the market isn't free. Income depends to a significant degree on the ability to write the rules of the marketplace and labor law in your favor, and the resources to utilize those rules and laws (e.g., money and lawyers); workers don't have such influence and resources. Consider Uber and its non-employee employees, for example. It also depends to a great degree on who you know and who your parents were. Also, I'll point out that a backup offensive lineman in the NFL, junior attorneys and investment bankers in NY, and many similarly situated people in Silicon Valley make more than the U.S. military officer in command of the entire Asia-Pacific region, many Nobel Prize winners, many doctors saving lives right now, not to mention social workers, teachers, diplomats, almost all scientists in academia, etc. People are paid based on supply and demand for whatever they offer (with supply and demand being determined by everything I discussed above). Starting a business isn't the only way to participate or take risks in the market. You also can try to sell your skills to another employer.