The evidence suggests that by paying our executives tens to hundreds of times the average salary, we haven't attracted the smartest minds, we've just got those who will do and say anything for a few dollars more at the expense of their co-workers and to keep the gravy train rolling on while the smartest minds are motivated by other things. While we are asking questions, why is it that we have to pay highly paid executives even more to do a "good" job, but minimum wage workers have to get paid less or have their conditions reduced to motivate them to do a better job? Does improving wages only work for the already wealthy?
Exactly the same could be said for bonuses. Why do you need a bonus for just doing your job? And since when is there a shortage of executive talent anyway? How many MBAs are handed out each year? Is there a Uni in Australia that
doesn't offer an MBA program??