ABSTRACT
Few things are more fundamental to human existence than making a living. In some parts of the world, and within some strata in any particular society, making a living entails thinking about one's prospects for finding a fulfilling job that pays the bills and satisfies ambitions. In other societies and social strata, however, making a living entails simply finding a job—any job—in order to survive. In either case, however, the question is, how much of our destiny lies in our own hands, and what are the social and cultural factors that affect our chances?
