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SHORTCHANGED.(The Talk of the Town)
In August, two Princeton economists released a study titled "Stature and Status: Height, Ability, and Labor Market Outcomes." The aim of the paper, by Anne Case and Christina Paxson, was to attempt to explain why tall people generally earn more than short people. The question is not a new one. More than a hundred years ago, social scientists established the correlation between height and socioeconomic status, and they've been trying to solve the enigma of what has been called the "height premium" ever since. In 1915, a study found bishops to be taller than preachers and sales managers to be taller than salesmen. A 1968 paper identified peer perception as a cause of the earning discrepancy. Separate studies in 1993 and 2006 concluded that discrimination is a key factor. Case and Paxson's work presents another explanation: On average, taller people earn more because they are smarter.
The study was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonpartisan think tank in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During the paper's first week on the N.B.E.R.'s Web site, it was downloaded by a handful of academics and government types. The authors received e-mails from fellow-economists who sent brief accolades such as "This is great" and "Fascinating" and "I didn't know this" and "WOW"--the resonant pings of quiet kudos in academe.
A week later, Reuters published a story on the paper under the headline "TALLER PEOPLE ARE SMARTER--STUDY." Within days, Case and Paxson had received dozens and dozens of e-mails from outraged readers. "I have no idea if it was the fact that women had written the study, but half of the ones I got were from short men," Case said the other day. "Some of them were actually obscene." Most of the e-mails were hostile: "Shame on you!" scolded one man (4" 9'). "I find your hypothesis insulting, prejudicial, inflammatory and bigoted," said another (5" 6'). "You have loaded a gun and pointed it at the vertically challenged man's head" (no height given). "I want to thank you and your colleague for perpetuating the crusade against short people" (5" 6'). "On a personal note it was very nice to be reminded that I really am a loser and will never be held in 'high' esteem by society" (5" 4'). "LEAVE THIS ALONE YOU'RE NOT ...
- Taller people live longer; How Cleese and Co benefit from health, wealth and...
- Newspaper article from: The Daily Mail (London, England) Marsh, Beezy June 14, 2001 700+ words
...rest of us. Research has proved that taller people tend to live longer - and it has been...have played a role in longevity among taller people. But a study published in the Journal...They are unable to say exactly why taller people have always lived longer, but theories...
- Taller people are smarter: Study.
- News wire article from: PPI - Pakistan Press International August 26, 2006 700+ words
...and shortness to smartness, but studies have found that taller people are generally smatter and they earn more than the short people...and discrimination, and it is found that on average, taller people earn more because they are smarter. As early as age 3...
- Taller people are happier than shorter ones.
- News wire article from: Asian News International September 9, 2009 700+ words
Byline: ANI London, Sept 9 (ANI): Taller people are much happier with their lives than shorter peers...imaginary life ladder." From analyses, boffins found that taller people reported a range of positive emotions such as enjoyment...
- Study: Taller people 'happier'.
- News wire article from: UPI Energy Resources September 9, 2009 700+ words
...Healthways Well-Being Index, Britain's The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday. They said their findings indicate taller people were more likely to be positive about their lives and describe themselves as happy and were less likely to complain of persistent...
- Raffel Comfort Sciences and Tranquil Ease Introduce The Balance(TM), High...
- Press release article from: Business Wire September 28, 2007 700+ words
CEDARBURG, Wis. -- Integrating a high style aesthetic with extensive massage capabilities for taller people, Raffel Comfort Sciences and its flagship brand Tranquil Ease unveil The Balance[TM] Massage Chair. Raffel Comfort Sciences...
- Am I suffering from prejudice?
- Newspaper article from: Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England) September 14, 2009 700+ words
...be more dissatisfied with life while taller people were happier. Possibly because they...Andrew Leigh said: "We found that taller people earn more. For example, the average...employers might have greater respect for taller people while short people suffer from discrimination...
- The Tall Guys; HOW COUNTRIES MEASURE UP; Why British men are about to soar past...
- Newspaper article from: The Mirror (London, England) Grant, Clare March 30, 1998 700+ words
...says: "Diet plays a role, but a good diet does not mean taller people. "The Japanese have an excellent diet with lots of fish...Only Holland, Germany and the United States cater for taller people with larger beds in hotel rooms and seats with more leg room...
- An Ode to Short Men
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Post Martha Sherrill Dailey December 29, 1987 700+ words
...says. "Tall men do not get hugs." In times of famine, taller people are the first to go, according to Keyes, who at 5 feet...are taller. This backs up other studies, which find that taller people are likely to be hired sooner, promoted faster and paid...
