Should We Pay Students to Become Engineers?

http://www.good.is/post/should-we-pay-students-to-become-engineers/

by wherespaul • 16 years ago

2 2 16 years ago

Alex63• 16 years ago

I thought we already did pay students to become engineers - it's called "employment".

If students don't feel that the long-term rewards of an engineering career are worth the up-front costs (time, effort, money), why would the taxpayers want to add an incentive? If engineers become scarce, then salaries should go up (assuming a free market) and more students will want to become engineers.

thailandstartup• 16 years ago

No, I think this is a problem for the free market.

I keep hearing that there aren't enough scientists and engineers, but then I look at the pay for a graduate with a B.Sc., and it's a low starting salary - if there were really a shortage, the starting salary would be higher. Supply and demand. Paying students to become engineers would shift the supply curve, decrease quality and drive down starting salaries.

Should We Pay Students to Become Engineers?

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