So for you the key is specialization? I came here to say the opposite, that the blog also fails to mention: the salaries are similarly low or high depending on

So for you the key is specialization? I came here to say the opposite, that the blog also fails to mention: the salaries are similarly low or high depending on what country you look at... for every profesion, not specifically programmers. In some countries you can earn more waiting tables than a programmer in others. Much more than a waiter in others. Do you think PISA scores matter for that? Or that a waiter is three times more productive in rich countries? The explanation (for general blue collar jobs) that I've read and was convincing enough is the lack of solid industrial jobs. If you can work in a factory for 2, you are not going to accept another same-effort job for 1, or a more challeging job for 2. Of course in programming hot spots there's plain shortage so it's just an auction.