I seem to remember that Adam Smith devotes a chapter to examining why different countries have significantly different durations of degree study, for the same eventual career.

"But are we Americans ourselves destined after all to hunger after similar vanities on an infinitely more contemptible scale?" Yes!

"And is individuality with us also going to count for nothing unless stamped and licensed and authenticated by some title-giving machine?" Yes!

"Let us pray that our ancient national genius may long preserve vitality enough to guard us from a future so unmanly and so unbeautiful!" Perhaps it was childlike, not ancient, genius that was destined to fade as we matured.

At least the concept of PhD as a requisite credential. That was a really interesting read—thanks for linking it.

What a great speech. Can anyone tell me what the "Mandarin disease" referred to by the speaker is?

I’ll bet it’s a reference to the Imperial Civil Service Exam[0], which in its later years became notorious in the same ways mentioned in the link. Government officials, who had all passed the exam, were known as Mandarins (at least to the West).

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_examination