4 ms·

Correlation vs causation

• mfringel 11y ago
  ....is not some magical incantation. Please state your point, in the context of the article.
  • intrasight 11y ago
    Yes, yes - sometimes my incantations are too brief. There are a lot of factors that may have correlation to health outcome. The fact that something is correlated does not, as journalists will often suggest, imply that there is a causation effect. The fact that the poor in some locations are more healthy is a good hint that being poor is not the direct cause of their health issues. But being poor is a root cause of many adversities in any society that doesn't treat health, education, and other such things as basic human rights.
    • giaour 11y ago
      I didn't get any sense from the article that the authors thought they had identified the root cause of poverty and/or reduced life expectancy. They're pointing out a rather chilling correlation.