4 ms·

He quotes an interesting sounding stat - "In fact, if you could choose to be born at the 95th percentile for wealth, or the 95th percentile for IQ, you would be

by nmca 9y ago

He quotes an interesting sounding stat - "In fact, if you could choose to be born at the 95th percentile for wealth, or the 95th percentile for IQ, you would be more successful at age 40 as a consequence of the latter choice." Does anyone know the source?

cdavid 9y ago
I was curious as well, as it smells made up and rather unlikely to be true given current wealth distribution. Where you are born (e.g. developed vs developing country) is a very strong causal factor in how much wealth you get during your life, much higher than IQ.
- Snackchez 9y ago
  The quote is mentioning success, rather in the sense of accomplishments not of financial worth. For example, I could be a billionaire and just hand my fortune to my children and someone with a high IQ might never reach that level of economic status. But comparing success in the sense of accomplishments, a high IQ person might have reached certain milestones, for example getting a PhD, maintaining a successful business, moving up to a higher socioeconomic status, etc.
kwhitefoot 9y ago
What does 'successful' mean?
cbcoutinho 9y ago
Restricting your analysis to the US, research indicates that IQ is actually more beneficial than your parents socioeconomic status in determining future success. Here's some small articles touching on the subject http://spartanideas.msu.edu/2015/04/04/income-wealth-and-iq/ http://spartanideas.msu.edu/2015/04/04/income-wealth-and-iq/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/12/would-you-rather-be-born-smart-or-rich/281828/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/12/would-y...
- tnzn 9y ago
  It's not exactly what it does say. Firstly for some reason the original research link is broken. Secondly (from your own source): "Nonetheless, for the teens and young adults of the late 1970s, the economy seems to have been, in at least some meaningful sense, a meritocracy. Now about that catch. The unfortunate truth is that, more often than not, the rich kids are the smart kids. For many years now, the single biggest gap in American education has been between the well-to-do and the poor. Thanks to the resources their families can pour into parenting, wealthy students start out academically ahead the day they walk into kindergarden, and stay ahead through their high school graduation day." Lastly I'll add that it only took white non hispanics into account.

by nmca 9y ago

cdavid 9y ago

I was curious as well, as it smells made up and rather unlikely to be true given current wealth distribution. Where you are born (e.g. developed vs developing country) is a very strong causal factor in how much wealth you get during your life, much higher than IQ.

Snackchez 9y ago
The quote is mentioning success, rather in the sense of accomplishments not of financial worth. For example, I could be a billionaire and just hand my fortune to my children and someone with a high IQ might never reach that level of economic status. But comparing success in the sense of accomplishments, a high IQ person might have reached certain milestones, for example getting a PhD, maintaining a successful business, moving up to a higher socioeconomic status, etc.

kwhitefoot 9y ago

What does 'successful' mean?

cbcoutinho 9y ago

Restricting your analysis to the US, research indicates that IQ is actually more beneficial than your parents socioeconomic status in determining future success. Here's some small articles touching on the subject http://spartanideas.msu.edu/2015/04/04/income-wealth-and-iq/ http://spartanideas.msu.edu/2015/04/04/income-wealth-and-iq/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/12/would-you-rather-be-born-smart-or-rich/281828/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/12/would-y...

tnzn 9y ago
It's not exactly what it does say. Firstly for some reason the original research link is broken. Secondly (from your own source): "Nonetheless, for the teens and young adults of the late 1970s, the economy seems to have been, in at least some meaningful sense, a meritocracy. Now about that catch. The unfortunate truth is that, more often than not, the rich kids are the smart kids. For many years now, the single biggest gap in American education has been between the well-to-do and the poor. Thanks to the resources their families can pour into parenting, wealthy students start out academically ahead the day they walk into kindergarden, and stay ahead through their high school graduation day." Lastly I'll add that it only took white non hispanics into account.