The overpaid executive

Ruth Laugesen looks at the reasons for soaring executive salaries, and how they feed inequality.

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18th February, 2012

Mag Features

Des Hunt has always called himself a capitalist. He was a major shareholder in rural supplies company Tru-Test, and made himself a fortune over 25 years. But these days, as corporate liaison for the Shareholders’ Association, Hunt is ashamed of what he sees as the greed of chief executives and directors in awarding themselves lavish pay rises, while those at the bottom face job insecurity and stagnant pay. “I’m a capitalist but I’m so disgusted. I’m a member of the Institute of Directors, but I’m so embarrassed. The people at the bottom are struggling, and people at the top are ...

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