London - In a report think tank new economic foundation (nef) calculates the value to society of a number of different jobs and advocates a fundamental rethink of how the value of work is recognised and rewarded.

The appraisement of nef: Waste recycling workers do a range of different jobs that relate to processing and preventing waste and promoting recycling. Carbon emissions are significantly reduced when goods are recycled instead of sending them to incineration or landfill. There is also a value in reusing goods, and we have included this in our model. The nef model projects that for every £1 of value spent on wages, £12 of value will be generated.

Fishing is the most dangerous job in Britain, with roofers and scaffolders also high up on the danger list, and waste recycling collectors are at number 18. Yet in none of these industries are rank-and-file workers highly paid.

To draw a comparison: High-earning investment bankers in the City of London are among the best remunerated people in the economy. But the earnings they command and the profits they make come at a huge cost because of the damaging social effects of the City of London’s financial activities. Nef found that rather than these bankers are being handsomely rewarded for bringing the global financial system to the brink of collapse. While collecting salaries of between £500,000 and £10 million, leading City bankers to destroy £7 of social value for every pound in value they generate.

The Study "A Bit Rich: Calculating the real value to society of different professions" can be found under neweconomics.org.

Quelle: new economic foundation (nef)

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