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Also I feel like this article just reflect a familiar trend across all US labor market: Winner takes all. The people at the top always take a disproportionate amount of the overall resources. In manufacturing it's the CEO vs the assembly line worker; in healthcare it's the hospital administrator vs the nurse aid; in academics its the university administrator vs the grad student.

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I do not think "winner takes all" reflects what you described. Rather, I'd say it means: best basketball player plays in NBA and makes millions per year. Median basketball player trains a pee-wee team on the side while holding a sales day job.

I diagree, and think the OP's point is actually quite prescient: "winner take all" is exactly how science is rewarded.

The first to a discovery can claim the credit, and will get the merit added to their score on grant applications, tenure, etc. The second discoverer, or one who affirms the finding, is considered at best to lack creativity.

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