Taller people are RICHER

Taller people are RICHER: Scientists find biggest leap in income takes place between 5'4" and 5'6" - but over 6' has no effect

  • On average, every extra inch in height earns a man $800 (£510) a year
  • A 4-5 inch difference is associated with salary increase of 9-15 per cent
  • Nutrition people received as a child - which affects both height and intelligence - is an important factor in determining salary, study finds 

Size really does matter in the boardroom, according to a new study.

Scientists believe that every extra inch a man has in height over his peers is worth almost $800 (£510) a year in increased earnings.

But not all inches are worth the same. 

A new study has found that the sharpest jump in earnings takes place between men who are 5'4' and 5'6' – but wages remain the same at around 6'0'.

In Western countries, The Atlantic notes that a four or five inch difference in height is associated with an increase in salary between nine and 15 per cent.

Earning more if you're taller makes sense for jobs that require physical strength, but the trend is largely seen in desk-based roles.

Some researchers believe taller people in officers earn more because they have better emotional intelligence, social skills and self-confidence.

Another theory suggests that taller people are treated better giving them more emotional stability and a better work ethic.

A new paper by Andreas Schick, an economist at the FDA, and Richard Steckel, an economist at the Ohio State University, argues it may be a combination of these factors.

They looked at data from the UK tracking a group of people born in 1958, and they found that neither intelligence or physical factors alone could not explain the differences in earnings.

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