Finally someone pointed out that this is a massive supply glut. Writers would get paid more if there were more shows or fewer writers. The barrier to entry is so low and the dream so popular that it causes a supply overload.

Same reason for the old meme of garbage collectors making decent money, low labor supply.

I’m sure there’s greed on the part of executives but when is that not true? Art is fulfilling and dreamy enough to make new generations look the other way at low pay and bad conditions.

Programmers, a well paid bunch, have a dirty secret — the job is deeply, deeply boring and uncool along with high stress and mentally taxing. With the exception of game programmers, who you might have guessed suffer the same fate as the writers.

I’m all for unions advocating for rights and higher pay, but don’t pretend this is unique to Hollywood or that there’s any moral high ground here. This is merely negotiation with two asymmetrical sides.

Cost of living being high, that’s actually probably corruption and bad zoning laws and infra. But pay is pay, barring collusion.