That's a bit harsh. Also you seem to assume American (or western?) spending habit that has no saving. If one would really plan for a sabbatical, I'm sure they would have planned financially from the six years leading to that too.
You must be kidding me, I was a graduate student in one of those "public Ivy" with such a low salary at 50% contract, with a spouse that holds a VISA not allowed to work, and for the duration of our VISA she never worked illegally to make money (which I heard is the norm that we didn't conform to). So I have a 25% of household income with a base that's low to begin with. Yet we can save up.
Hint: we are Hong Kong people. Don't assume people don't save up because they don't earn enough. I'm not saying the system isn't problematic, but I hope I prove your statement wrong.
