Why does someone entrusted with thousands of lives earn less than someone brokering expensive deals with little personal risk? Because pay is rarely about responsibility, difficulty, or social value. This episode breaks down how modern compensation actually works: income flows to those positioned near large pools of money, not those bearing the greatest consequences. We explore deal-size thinking, reference bias, executive pay rationalizations, and why access to big transactions matters more than skill or effort. Once you see the pattern, much of the economy stops being confusing—and starts being predictable.

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