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Every post-doc position is wildly over-subscribed and there is fierce competition for each one. So simple economics - the law of supply and demand - says they a
by gaius 8y ago
Every post-doc position is wildly over-subscribed and there is fierce competition for each one. So simple economics - the law of supply and demand - says they are not underpaid, in fact if anything they are paid over the clearing price for the market.
- JohnStrangeII 8y agoYou're under the mistaken impression that there is a free market for postdoc positions. Postdoc salaries are fixed by government salary level tables and postdoc positions are opened as part of a planned economy. Plans range from 5 to 10 years. Moreover, universities are not companies and could not possibly be run like companies, and foundational research usually does not produce any consumable products. The effects of foundational research on economy are soften only noticeable years or decades later, sometimes (like in mathematics) centuries later. Regarding publications in foundational research as "products" is highly misleading, they contribute to a net effect in science that can hardly be quantified.
- cbkeller 8y agoThere are also huge variations between fields. Bio postdocs are hugely competitive and kinda brutal compared to my field, for instance.