The remarkable income difference existing between American and European researchers was confirmed. It was the outcome of a survey issued by the EU Commission published in November following the initiative by Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. The document, which goes under the name of “Salaries of researchers in the public and private business sectors” was the result of online data collection with the contribution of over 10 thousand researchers (working full-time or part-time). Major differences were also identified within the Union, which add up to the inequalities between men and women which in some countries are over 35% (Estonia, Check Republic, Portugal). On a global scale, the mean yearly income of an American researcher approximately amounts to 63 thousand Euro compared to 40 thousand earned by his European colleague. Austria, Luxembourg and The Netherlands, along with Swizerland and Israel – where salaries are similar to those in the US- are an exception. These countries are all part of the Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE). Australia, Japan and India rank half-way through the old and the new continent. Commissioner Potocnik affirmed that we are witnessing an “obstacle to free circulation which contributes to the flight abroad of our brightest European researchers. This is true to the extent that a number of Member States should reconsider the social value of those undertaking a fundamental job for our future”.
