[randomdata]

What is not clear to me is why people with degrees are always trying to promote that others also get degrees. The exclusivity of the degree is what makes it interesting and valuable.

Not knocking the education component, education is always a good thing (whether it comes from school or some other avenue), but the perception of success you talk about is because it is still somewhat of an exclusive club; probably doubly so in developing nations. However, thanks to the pressure on students to go to college, that gap is continually shrinking and constantly devaluing the value of the degree.

If you buy a Ferrari, you are perceived as more successful than others. You are going to be afforded luxuries that others do not have, just because you are signalling that you are "better". If we did some studies, I bet we would even find that Ferrari ownership, like a degree, pays – through better contacts and opportunities to make money because of the signalling. But I don't see Ferrari owners out there telling everyone that they need to own a Ferrari. They understand the importance of being part of a select few.

If education pays, you would think you would want to keep that under wraps. Given that, it always feels like there are some insecurities at play every time the topic comes up.