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I’m very curious what the net effect on culture and salaries would be if everyone knew everyone’s total compensation. On one hand, it’s already possible to kno

I’m very curious what the net effect on culture and salaries would be if everyone knew everyone’s total compensation. On one hand, it’s already possible to know how much most people bought their house for and what their rent is, on the other hand, the data is relatively obsfucated and not directly relevant since most people bought their house in the past and aren’t new homeowners) Would all businesses simply price discriminate if there were a very easy way to determine someone’s salary? I feel most of modern personal finance is basically just taking advantage of information asymmetry.

brianwawok 5y ago
There is no reason to guess, this is already the law in at least 1 western country. Haven't heard stories in a while, but I think it made some interactions awkward and in general lead to more equality. One wrinkle is that it's not anonoymous in Norway to search, which skews it a little See https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40669239 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40669239
- subpixel 5y ago
  > "Since 2014 it has been possible to find out who has been doing searches on your information," explains Hans Christian Holte, the head of Norway's tax authority. > "We saw a significant drop to about a 10th of the volume that was before. I think it has taken out the Peeping Tom mentality." This is just genius. And yet I'm imagining some simple ways around this that would inevitably pop up were this a thing in my country.
- divbzero 5y ago
  I wish the not anonymous to search feature were applied to home addresses and home purchases too. I see the benefit of the data being publicly available but wouldn’t want it abused by the wrong parties.
hemloc_io 5y ago
Functionally in tech that already exists with levels.fyi (At least for larger companies.) Generally I find that younger people I meet with are very open to talking about salary, assuming you're working in the same industry. Definitely a sharp contrast to HR policy on the subject. Just try asking what salary bands are at companies and you'll get shifty bullshit.
- vmception 5y ago
  > Functionally in tech that already exists with levels.fyi (At least for larger companies.) Note, the data there is getting better but it is not perfect. As they accept both offer letters and W-2's, which can be wildly different as share prices move.
hammock 5y ago
Knowing the salary of a job posting is not the same as knowing the salary that is eventually offered to whoever fills it.
henrydark 5y ago
How do you know rent?
whyenot 5y ago
Because I am a public employee, anyone can go online and look up my salary. I've often wondered who might be doing that. Of course, where you live and if you own your own home are both publicly available and already pretty good proxy measures for income. I know for a fact that I pay more for certain things like help with gardening, an electrician, plumber, etc. based on where I live.

brianwawok 5y ago

There is no reason to guess, this is already the law in at least 1 western country. Haven't heard stories in a while, but I think it made some interactions awkward and in general lead to more equality. One wrinkle is that it's not anonoymous in Norway to search, which skews it a little See https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40669239 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40669239

subpixel 5y ago
> "Since 2014 it has been possible to find out who has been doing searches on your information," explains Hans Christian Holte, the head of Norway's tax authority. > "We saw a significant drop to about a 10th of the volume that was before. I think it has taken out the Peeping Tom mentality." This is just genius. And yet I'm imagining some simple ways around this that would inevitably pop up were this a thing in my country.
divbzero 5y ago
I wish the not anonymous to search feature were applied to home addresses and home purchases too. I see the benefit of the data being publicly available but wouldn’t want it abused by the wrong parties.

hemloc_io 5y ago

Functionally in tech that already exists with levels.fyi (At least for larger companies.) Generally I find that younger people I meet with are very open to talking about salary, assuming you're working in the same industry. Definitely a sharp contrast to HR policy on the subject. Just try asking what salary bands are at companies and you'll get shifty bullshit.

vmception 5y ago
> Functionally in tech that already exists with levels.fyi (At least for larger companies.) Note, the data there is getting better but it is not perfect. As they accept both offer letters and W-2's, which can be wildly different as share prices move.

hammock 5y ago

Knowing the salary of a job posting is not the same as knowing the salary that is eventually offered to whoever fills it.

henrydark 5y ago

How do you know rent?

whyenot 5y ago

Because I am a public employee, anyone can go online and look up my salary. I've often wondered who might be doing that. Of course, where you live and if you own your own home are both publicly available and already pretty good proxy measures for income. I know for a fact that I pay more for certain things like help with gardening, an electrician, plumber, etc. based on where I live.