zero/zero, I fully agree. You can earn what your customers can afford you to earn. In some places they can afford less and it is cheaper to live there, then you will earn less. As simple as that. In some stages of economic cycles your customers can afford less so you will earn less. Your expertise is only valuable when it is in short supply. When the economic cycle, or whatever other factor comes into play, results in there being too many with your expertise, you will earn less. Ask pilots at Thomas Cook, Monarch, Astraeus, Baby, Gill ... ... Dan Air, Orion,etc., etc. And looking further afield, Primera, Wow, Air Berlin, Sabena, Swissair, Pan Am, TWA, Braniff and so on and on and on. When the money dries up your 'expertise' is worth nowt. As you pointed out, it's market forces dear boy, market forces.