The UK forces private companies to share some high level financial information publicly on Companies House. As a non-UK company, I can spy on my UK competitors' finances while they cannot spy on mine. Insanity.
And given how the average person experiences jealousy, I wouldn't want salaries to be public. I already feel uncomfortable when family members ask me how much money I make, because I know they'd only use it to compare themselves to. This kind of comparison is toxic in society.