Question

In some countries a surgeon can earn 250000 or more each year. A nurse may earn just 40000 in comparison. Suggest three reasons for this differential in earnings.

Answer 1

Answer: See explanation

Explanation:

The reasons for the difference in wages include:

1. Education and training: A nurse uses about 4-5 years to train to become a nurse while a surgeon uses about 15 years both at medical school and for further training and examination before he or she qualifies as a surgeon. This is a reason for the higher earning of the surgeon.

2. Also, due to the low barriers to entry, there are numerous nurses than surgeons who are few. This affects earnings as well as there are more supply of nurses which brings about a lower income than surgeons who are scarce and highly priced.

3. The skills and experience matters as well and the risks involved in their jobs results in wage difference too.