[DMac87]

The issue is that the same argument made for programmers can be made for back office & middle office as well, which when added up are much more than 1000 programmers. I agree that the bonus:salary ratio should increase drastically for trading/sales vs other roles, but for corporate culture/uniformity and practical business (need to quickly reduce costs) reasons it's done this way to some degree.

[kchoudhu]

I have extreme views about the existence of middle and back office personnel at banks as well. But that's another discussion for another day.