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Let's face the facts: half the world nearly three billion people live on less than two dollars a day. Is this really an indication that the majority of people are overpaid?

Poverty statistics are astonishing and frightening. It's not that too many people are earning too much money, but that too few people are earning too much money. The poverty gap is widening because wealth is concentrated in the wrong place.

Recent statistics indicate that the poorest 40% of the world's population accounts for 5% of global income; the richest 20% accounts for three-quarters of world income. This is hardly evidence of overpayment of the majority.

Where there is overpayment is in the top occupations or those with the greatest risk. Multinational companies pay Chief Executives (CEOs) an extortionate amount of money, as do some energy firms. Organizations like Shell Oil are accused of exploiting the poorer, more vulnerable or dependent people in the world and reduce their purchasing power.

In financial markets, those taking risks with other people's money can earn a small fortune. Those who have the knowledge to invest (or gamble, as some like to describe it) are able to reap the rewards; while those who have nothing are left with nothing.

Those with high powered jobs have the position to earn more and the responsibility to command a higher salary. Whether this is a specialized position like computers (IT, the internet and so on) or other high-earning jobs like finance, or medicine, finding the top job will take hard work, knowledge and more than likely - qualifications.

The top six highest starting salaries for graduates are in the following jobs:

1. Investment Banking (Sales and Trading) Corporate Finance came in at number 8
2. Chemical Process Engineering
3. Hardware Design and Development
4. Software Design and Development
5. Production Engineering
6. Systems Engineering

By 2004, about 0.13% of the world's population controlled 25% of the world's financial assets, while the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) (567 million people) is less than the combined wealth of the world's richest 7 people.

This is a scary fact but proves that businessmen and entrepreneurs may be in the minority but can earn much more than the majority. So effectively managing your career is worth the effort. Either look for that good or generous, employer and be dedicated to your occupation. Commitment and ambition certainly are the key.

Source:

(1) http://www.globalissues.org/Tr adeRelated/Facts.asp
(2) http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a /theyre-earning-what-americas- highest/20060822125209990010

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