They're supposed to go on and make discoveries that will ultimately improve the lives of others.
Is there a statistic on how many do this?
Are the discoveries believed to be great enough to offset the
debt that the future society will inherit, in part to have funded these discoveries? Will gifted kids of the future, who must pay down the
national debt, feel that decision makers of today were acting in their best interests? Will they experience a
beautiful deleveraging? International news about the Greek debt crisis and austerity measures may hint at the future of the US, when
US debt US debt comes due and needs to be repaid. The work of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may also be of interest.
Research studentships are supposed to be investments in the future of the society, but selfish Americans have trouble seeing past the idea that they're getting a "free" Ph.D. (note: they're actually working their little backsides off).
There are many professions which benefit the future of society, with dedicated individuals working long hours, but not receiving a "free" Ph.D.
They work for peanuts, which is why the universities love them and why there are too many of them.
What might be the predominant reasons that a large number of individuals are choosing this path?
