I was listening to NPR this morning.. and one of the guestd were talking about environmental economics. One of the examples of that was WHY DO ATTORNEYS DRIVE BMW's WHEN COLLAGE PROFESSORS, MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF EARNINGS, DRIVE OLD BEAT UP CARS, LIKE OLD VOLVOS? They never gave an answer. Any body have an answer to that? Thanks.. TGK3

I wonder if it is not part of the image attorneys want to make - successful, wealthy, up and coming, sharp, etc. College professors, while not all are like this, for the most part are not wrapped up in that "ego driven" image. It is also true that not all attorneys drive bmw's. My divorce attorney drove an old IH Scout, complete with rust.

Well frankly I don't know too many college professors that make the same amount as lawyers. Perhaps an exceptionally high-paid college professor and/or an exceptionally low-paid attorney would make the same amount. But overall, trying to compare the two salary-wise is, like you suggest, comparing Volvos and BMWs.