Does anyone else think the academic ballooning in Canada of qualifications is justified? I'm seriously asking. Is a PhD (or JSD) necessary as a "hoop" to jump through? Why do we insist on this?

I understand the desire for competition and for the "best" to rise to the top. But are we testing for the best? Or just for those who have the resources to last through the "Hunger Games" process of moving cities, countries, the world? Is this reasonable to expect of families?

I'm open to correction, of course. I just don't get it. It seems like the ballooning is driven by prestige and life situation rather than merit? Can we imagine a better way to do things?

And as @bobtarantino notes, the same applies to "post-doc" position(s).