Is There Any Good Reason To Force Publicly Listed Companies To Reveal Executive Pay?

[sp1814]

Executives will always be paid far more than the average worker, because averages salaries will include those on the minimum wage.

What good can come of this?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-plan-executive-pay-company-boards-ftse-chief-executive-inequality-greg-clark-theresa-may-a7911516.html

[sp1814]

woofgang

Why not try answering the question rather than being snarky and you too will be in with a chance of BA.

[sp1814]

...but saying that...jim360 is right. That's literally how it works around here.

Like, forever.

[jim360]

I post lots of things that probably deserve Best Answer, but usually I just get BA.

[Kromovaracun]

I don't particularly agree with the idea that handsomely-paid individuals are necessarily rewarded for their skill and effort (if society rewarded people based on hard work and nothing else, it would look very different). Success tends to select for people who either have personal connections, early life advantages, know how to play politics or (more commonly) more than one of the above.

That being said, it's hard to see what publicising executive pay achieves other than allowing more in-depth research into earnings patterns across society. Corporations are not people, and are not going to be "shamed" (if that's the intention) into dividing profits more equally if it is not in their interest to do so.

[jim360]

Can I just add that I've been saving my last post up for something like six months and I'm disappointed a the total lack of reaction to such a glorious pun.

[sandyRoe]

B****R all? :-))

[jno]

[i]If somebody is being paid handsomely it is because they had the brains, talent and drive to succeed. – it has absolutely nothing to do with greed.[i]

like good old Fred the Shred, I suppose. And those other bankers with brains, talent and drive to succeed who unfortunately had to be bailed out by me and other taxpayers.

[Garaman]

Pure socialism and pure capitalism don’t work for the same basic reason, which is human greed. In the former workers would bring the country to a standstill, and in the latter bosses would take most the profits and pay workers a pittance. What seems to work best is something just to the right of centre where capitalism is controlled to some degree. There is lot evidence to suggest that the bosses need more controlling as they seem to be getting fatter in recent years at the expense of workers. This might or might not be the right sort of measure, but something needs to be done to address the situation.

[sandyRoe]

When pigs get their snout in the trough there's no stopping them. There needs to be some restraints.

[Mamyalynne]

Knowing what the top executives earn won't change one thing in my day.