People who consume alcohol earn significantly more at their jobs than non-drinkers, according to a US study that highlighted "social capital" gained from drinking.
The study published in the Journal of Labor Research Thursday concluded that drinkers earn 10 to 14 percent more thanteetotalers, and that men who drink socially bring home an additional seven percent in pay.
"Social drinking builds social capital," said Edward Stringham, an economics professor at San Jose State University and co-author of the study with fellow researcher Bethany Peters.
"Social drinkers are out networking, building relationships, and addingcontactsto theirBlackBerriesthat result in biggerpaychecks."
The authors acknowledged their study, funded by the Reason Foundation, contradicted research released in 2000 by the Harvard School of Public Health.
"We created our hypothesis through casual observation and examination of scholarly accounts," the authors said.
"Drinkers typically tend to be more social than abstainers."
The researchers said their empirical survey backed up the theory, and said the most likely explanation is that drinkers have a wider range of social contacts that help provide better job and business opportunities.
"Drinkers may be able to socialize more with clients and co-workers, giving drinkers an advantage in important relationships," the researchers said.
"Drinking may also provide individuals with opportunities to learn people, business, and social skills."
They also said these conclusions provide arguments against policies aimed at curbing alcohol use on university campuses and public venues.
"Not only do anti-alcohol policies reduce drinkers' fun, but they may also decrease earnings," the study said.
(Agencies)
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美國一項以“飲酒積聚社會資本”為主題的研究表明，飲酒人士掙的錢要比不喝酒的人多很多。
這篇研究論文于本周四在《勞動力研究》期刊上發表，研究結果表明，喝酒的人比不喝酒的人掙錢多10％到14％，而且在社交場合喝酒的人能多掙7％。
美國圣何賽州立大學的經濟學教授愛德華·斯丁漢姆和貝瑟尼·彼得斯共同撰寫了這篇論文。愛德華教授說：“在社交場合喝酒能積聚社會資本”。
他說：“社交飲士們通常善于進行人際交往，這會給他們帶來額外收入。”
論文的撰寫者說，此項由"理智基金會"資助的研究與哈佛大學公共健康學院2000年公布的一項研究結果正相反。
他們說：“我們的假設主要基于平時的觀察和對一些學術報告的研究。”
“喝酒的人通常比不喝酒的人善于交際。”
研究人員說，他們的實證性調查可為這個理論提供支持，此外，對這個問題最合理的解釋是，飲酒人士的社會交往較為廣泛，這有助于他們得到更好的工作和更多的商業機會。
研究人員說：“飲酒人士可能更容易和他們的客戶和同事建立關系，在掌握重要人脈關系方面有一定優勢。”
“此外，喝酒還可為了解他人、掌握行業動向和發展社交技巧提供機會。”
研究者說，這些結論還可為人們抵制禁止在大學和公共場所飲酒的法令提供支持。
研究報告中說：“禁酒令不僅掃了飲酒人士們的興致，而且還有可能會減少收入”。
(英語點津姍姍編輯)
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