I am reading a fascinating little book right now called Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire by William Cavanaugh.
He quotes, what is for me, a horrendous statistic. In 1980 the average CEO made 42 times what the average production worker made. Today its 475 times.
CEO’s are, in my opinion, over paid in an obscene way. Now, I know the argument simplistically) is that to get the best you pay the huge sums – they carry the burden and they should be paid – and when they fail, the $20m payoff as compensation is valid. I am afraid that it is not valid and I would even throw out that it is unethical and immoral.
More to come from this little book!
Agreed this is a shocker, but how to control it? In the UK executive pay must require shareholder approval. Should do this in US too. Then shareholders can vote down severence packages. This is starting to happen here so an end is coming to the CEO pay bonanza.