by Josef A

Created on: May 10, 2009

For 80% of the population the answer is quite clear. Let's be realistic and go for the college degree. Our initial reaction shows that our perception of education has become so positive that it stands above all other values. However, as stupid as it sounds at the beginning there are plenty of situations you can find yourself in where you should definitely go for the BMW. I want to talk about those situations rather then bore anybody with the undoubtedly beneficial effects of education.

There are, and that should not sound derogative, simply people that are not capable of profiting from a college education. This may be owing to their lack of intellectual abilities and stamina or merely the fact they do not like studying. I remember growing up in rural area with lots of small farmers' children in my elementary school class. They did not care for learning and studying, not the slightest bit. The reason was they would become farmers as their parents had always been and had been told that all they ever need to know in life will be taught to them at the parental farm at home. I agree those kinds of people are getting less and less in the world we live in, but they still exist, in particular if you into into less developed areas of the world. Take another example, an immigrant barely speaking the language of his new country. Why should he invest into a bachelor's degree if he hardly understands the language he is supposed to study in. He might rather invest into a BMW, put a taxi sign on, and start making money. If you are inventive you could add many other circumstances where a college degree is just not of value for you and a BMW has its specific value no matter what.

Those two examples prove that even choosing according to economic rationality there are reasons to go for the BMW. Well, there are enough unreasonable arguments you can find. A BMW is a beautiful car and I know enough people that only save to ever afford such luxury or even go deep into debt for it. You might call them stupid, but after all it's everyone's choice and whatever the potential yearly salary increase of a college degree is, some will just ignore it and realize their dream. And it's not all about profits and returns in life. If to you personally a BMW brings more value and joy into your life, then it is also the better investment for you. Those who will come and tell you otherwise will appear soon enough.

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