pikclingoil

>One fifth as much as the lowest-paid American??

Quite! A top 10% earner in Finland, a supposedly very developed country, by saving all of their net-income spending zero on food and letting their SO pay the bills, could in 2-3 years afford a new Skoda.

>Are you saying that these firms are economically uncompetitive, with META, and should shut shop?

A company with same requirements but not the funding? Absolutely

>There are far more people who need code, than just the people at FAANG companies.

With different requirements you can find way more people.