Which, you must admit, is not much of an incentive. If you reach the same situation whatever you do, why would you try very hard?

Why do indeed some try very hard at jobs where it is obvious it will not earn them more? For example teachers and nurses.

Of the top of my head and in no particular order: Work-ethics, respect of peers, pride in a job well done, the knowledge the others depend on your work.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se