Can someone shed light on why it takes 6-7 years in the US? My European friends tend to manage in 3-4 years. The opportunity costs look quite different at that stage in life. Much better to find out you need a new direction at 25 than 29.
Lack of unions might have something to do with it. Was in Copenhagen recently and was surprised that even as a PhD student, your salary is negotiated based on your experience- and the negotiation is done by the union representative. When unions aren't abused it sounds like they can be quite useful. But yeah, in the US, PhDs and post docs are used as cheap but knowledgeable labor, and kept around as long as possible by constantly giving them other things to do that aren't directly related to their project.
