4 ms·

What do you think of the articles that have been posted to HN about how people make worse decisions when they're under financial stress? I think they fail to e

What do you think of the articles that have been posted to HN about how people make worse decisions when they're under financial stress? I think they fail to explain the majority of the behavioral differences. Specifically, they fail to explain: 1) why the children of upper class parents do not start behaving like poor people when they are broke (e.g. during college or grad school). 2) why Mexicans make good choices like sneaking into America, working hard, forming stable family units and saving money. 3) why Indians make the same good choices even when they don't have the option of sneaking into America. 4) why unskilled Chinese immigrants (or folks back home) make the same good choices.

intended 10y ago
The Indian and Chinese ones are easy to explain - you get the best of those countries. Those countries in turn have suffered from brain drain for the past several decades.
- yummyfajitas 10y ago
  You seem to be suggesting humans have an intrinsic quality - some are the "best", others are the presumably the worst. This intrinsic quality is then what drives behavior. Of course, if people internationally can be "the best", then perhaps domestically people can be "the best" (or not) as well. For example, perhaps bad inner cities and Trump-voting rust belt regions are full of people who are very much NOT the best. I think you're agreeing with me.
  - alphakappa 10y ago
    Your conclusion does not logically follow. Sure, some people may not be "the best", but that does not mean that an entire group of people (your "bad inner cities and Trump-voting rust belt regions") can be grouped into best or not-best. There will be a ranking of people (based on any criteria) in any region.
    - yummyfajitas 10y ago
      A charitable interpretation of both my comment and the comment I'm replying to is that the groups we are describing have a higher/lower proportion of people who are "the best" and "the worst".
pm90 10y ago
Well 1) is easy to explain: children of upper class parents get supported financially; they also have a social safety net, so if they are out of work, their social circle will help them get one.

intended 10y ago

The Indian and Chinese ones are easy to explain - you get the best of those countries. Those countries in turn have suffered from brain drain for the past several decades.

yummyfajitas 10y ago
You seem to be suggesting humans have an intrinsic quality - some are the "best", others are the presumably the worst. This intrinsic quality is then what drives behavior. Of course, if people internationally can be "the best", then perhaps domestically people can be "the best" (or not) as well. For example, perhaps bad inner cities and Trump-voting rust belt regions are full of people who are very much NOT the best. I think you're agreeing with me.
- alphakappa 10y ago
  Your conclusion does not logically follow. Sure, some people may not be "the best", but that does not mean that an entire group of people (your "bad inner cities and Trump-voting rust belt regions") can be grouped into best or not-best. There will be a ranking of people (based on any criteria) in any region.
  - yummyfajitas 10y ago
    A charitable interpretation of both my comment and the comment I'm replying to is that the groups we are describing have a higher/lower proportion of people who are "the best" and "the worst".

pm90 10y ago

Well 1) is easy to explain: children of upper class parents get supported financially; they also have a social safety net, so if they are out of work, their social circle will help them get one.