Mars: Ever wonder about the folks at the tippy-top of the economic ladder? You know, the CEOs, board members, the ones really pulling the strings? I'm always curious about what makes them… them. Like, where do they come from? How old are they, really? And what did they even study in college?
Mia: Oh, absolutely. It's almost like this super exclusive club, right? You imagine there's a dress code, maybe an age limit, definitely a preferred university. But you'd be surprised, there are some really interesting differences when you start digging.
Mars: Okay, I'm ready to dig! So, what's the biggest, most obvious thing about this elite crowd?
Mia: Well, first off, let's be honest, it's still very much a boys' club. I mean, across the board, in the major economies, it's heavily male-dominated. And age-wise, it's a spectrum. In the US, the elite tend to be a bit older, the median age is around 62. But in places like China and Poland, they're a bit younger, more like mid-fifties, and you even see a surprising number under 40.
Mars: Mid-fifties, yeah, that makes sense. Old enough to have some gray hairs, young enough to still have that startup energy. But under 40? Really?
Mia: Definitely. Think about the tech entrepreneurs, the young disruptors. You see it more in China and Poland than in, say, Denmark or Switzerland. It's the young money crowd.
Mars: That's fascinating. What about where they're from? I always picture these folks growing up in some big city, going to elite prep schools, flying around on private jets since they were toddlers.
Mia: You'd think that, right? But in China, almost half of them actually grew up in small villages! Talk about a Cinderella story. Small-town grit leading to big paychecks. And then, flip it over to the UK. About 45% of their financial elite were born abroad.
Mars: Whoa, really?
Mia: Yeah, a lot of talent migrating in, especially from the old Commonwealth nations, and beyond.
Mars: Wait, so only a tiny fraction in China are foreigners, right? Not much international mobility compared to Britain?
Mia: Exactly. China's number is super small, like one percent foreign-born. But the US, Denmark, Switzerland, even Chile, they all have around a quarter to a third of their top dogs born overseas.
Mars: So, the UK's like a global melting pot on steroids. Makes sense for a major financial hub. Okay, let's switch gears to education. Are these folks all Harvard MBAs or something?
Mia: A master's degree is usually the golden ticket, except maybe in Argentina, Italy, and the UK, where a bachelor's is often enough. PhDs? They're pretty rare. Only about 5% of Sweden's top brass have doctorates, but in Germany, it's closer to 35%!
Mars: Wow, Germany's really rocking the PhD thing. Any hints on what they actually majored in?
Mia: Economics is the all-star, the most popular choice in most countries. But in China and Finland, engineering actually edges out economics, just slightly. And in the UK, Poland, Switzerland, you'll see at least one in five with degrees in humanities or law. But in Scandinavia, it's more like one in ten, or even less.
Mars: So, if I'm giving my nephew some career advice, I'd say economics is a safe bet, maybe engineering as a backup plan... unless he's dead-set on a philosophy degree in London!
Mia: Exactly! It's a bit like choosing a character class in a role-playing game. Economics gives you well-rounded stats, engineering gives you a discipline bonus, and humanities or law gives you negotiation perks, depending on the country.
Mars: I love that analogy! Before we wrap up, any big surprises here?
Mia: I think the biggest takeaway is that these elites are both cookie-cutter and totally unique. They share a lot in common, but the recipe changes depending on the country. Age, birthplace, education - all the ingredients vary.
Mars: Right, it's not a one-size-fits-all situation. Global elite, but with local flavors.
Mia: Couldn't have said it better myself. And that's the key: if you want to join the club, you've got to know the local playbook.
Mars: Awesome. Thanks for breaking it down for us. And thanks to everyone for listening. We'll catch you next time when we dig into another hidden layer of our world.
