Tall people earn more

Summary
18 May 2009

Researchers in Australia have found that tall people earn higher wages than their shorter counterparts. They also found that chubby people earn more than those who are skinny.

Reporter:
Nick Bryant
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Report
The long and short of this Australian report is that tall workers earn significantly more than their vertically challenged counterparts. A six foot man can expect a windfall of almost $750 a year.

The researchers found there were practical reasons why the size gap translated into a pay gap. Tall people were sometimes more capable of performing certain physical tasks, like reaching high shelves. But the discrepancy is explained mainly by discrimination, the simple fact that society tends to look on tall people as more powerful and smarter, even when they're not.

The study from the Australian National University also found that slimmer workers tend to get slimmer pay packets. Fat men earn 5% more than their slender colleagues.

Nick Bryant, BBC News, Sydney

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Vocabulary
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the long and short of
a commonly used set expression said when you want to explain the general situation without giving details
vertically challenged
an indirect way of saying 'short'
counterparts
your counterpart is someone who is generally similar to you but different in a particular way (e.g. they come from a different country, or, as here, they are shorter than you)
windfall
here, money that you win or receive unexpectedly
translated into
here, meant, caused, resulted in
discrepancy
a distinct difference between two things that should be the same
discrimination
unfair treatment of someone because of prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender or, as here, size
tend to get slimmer pay packets
usually earn less money
slender
slim, thin

BBC Learning English
Words in the News
18th
May 2009
Tall people earn more



Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com



Researchers in Australia have found that tall people earn higher wages than their shorter
counterparts, an extra ten centimetres in height means 3% higher wages. They also found that
chubby people earn more than those who are skinnier. From Sydney here's Nick Bryant:

The long and short of this Australian report is that tall workers earn significantly more than
their vertically challenged counterparts. A six foot man can expect a windfall of almost
$750 a year.

The researchers found there were practical reasons why the size gap translated into a pay gap.
Tall people were sometimes more capable of performing certain physical tasks, like reaching
high shelves. But the discrepancy is explained mainly by discrimination, the simple fact that
society tends to look on tall people as more powerful and smarter, even when they're not.

The study from the Australian National University also found that slimmer workers tend to
get slimmer pay packets. Fat men earn 5% more than their slender colleagues.

Nick Bryant, BBC News, Sydney


Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

the long and short of a commonly used set expression said when you want to
explain the general situation without giving details
vertically challenged an indirect way of saying 'short'
counterparts your counterpart is someone who is generally similar to
you but different in a particular way (e.g. they come from a
different country, or, as here, they are shorter than you)
windfall here, money that you win or receive unexpectedly
translated into here, meant, caused, resulted in
discrepancy a distinct difference between two things that should be the
same
discrimination unfair treatment of someone because of prejudice about
race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender or, as here, size
tend to get slimmer pay
packets
usually earn less money
slender slim, thin