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Nice attempt, but how do you correct for bias here? What type of people visit HN? What type of people visit HN that come from the UK? At what point of the day? Which people are happy to fill in a questionnaire that shows how little they earn? It is probably skewed in the direction of high wages. To know that I would recommend at least the same poll for another European city and for several American cities.

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What would figures for another European city tell us about London? Rates for programmers in Dublin are about 20% higher than London, but that says nothing about the London figures quoted here.

Of course the data tells you something. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-response_bias - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_desirability_bias (quote: Personal income and earnings, often inflated when low and deflated when high)

Something to cope with it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckman_correction

Why would anyone avoid telling others how much they make? For example, I make £32k (£1900/month) and I pay £800/month rent.

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