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Want to grow the economy? Pay hustlers well

Envelope with money (courtesy)

In developed countries, hustlers are usually paid an hourly wage instead of a monthly salary. In the US, you get about $10 (Sh1,000) an hour. It sounds like a lot of money until you go shopping in a supermarket.

Still, hourly pay makes workers more productive. Their job security is the quality of their work. This kind of payment system is rare in Kenya – we prefer monthly salaries or daily wages. The amount paid per hour depends on the cost of living. Life is more expensive, say, in Nairobi than Shamakhokho, or in California compared to Mississippi.

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