I can get a Masters in Mathematical Finance in two years and make an easy starting 60k a year doing something which frankly is largely bullshit, or I can do a PhD in a hard science and hope I get a position paying me something above poverty.
Why is this?
The former doesn't do anything significant, isn't advancing human knowledge and isn't necessary. The later actually does something difficult and has the potential for a much greater impact.
>>1237049
is it because supply & demand, professor?
>>1237049
>Maintaining and advancing the foundations of a nations economy isn't important
Who do you think is paying for the research?
>>1237049
Wrap your mind around this... I'm a CS major and am making 100k out the door as a back end dev.
Similarly, a friend with an accounting degree is making 85k, both of us had 1-2 year internships during school.
You're missing something big in your post.
>>1237082
Pay doesn't correlate with difficulty or social impact?
>>1237082
Accounting is not mathematical finance.
Someone with a mathematical finance degree will have the opportunity to make much more than you can in the future.
There's a low ceiling for how much your pay will increase with a CS degree only.