Burnout, chronic fatigue, and Prozac in the professions: the iron law of salaries

Abstract

In this model of contested exchange, ambitious salaried yuppies (in accounting, consulting, engineering, higher education, investment banking, law, management, marketing, medicine, or other professions) inevitably toil on the verge of depression, much as wage workers once toiled on the verge of starvation. This depression reduces diligence yet maximizes profit, subject to the rejection-rate Laffer curve. Chronic fatigue syndrome provides a status defense (conspicuous excess capacity) for workers denied promotion. Wellness programs, psychological counseling, anti-depressant drugs, exercise, and cheerful human resources management techniques improve profits more than morale. This may constitute exploitation in the sense of Roemer or Steiner.