Geneticists And Economists Clash Over "Genoeconomics" Paper 213
scibri writes "One side is accused of supporting ethnic cleansing; the other of being intellectually naive. Geneticists and economists are struggling to collaborate on research that explores how our genes influence and interact with economic behavior. Top economists are publishing a paper that claims a country's genetic diversity can predict the success of its economy. To critics, the economists' paper seems to suggest that a country's poverty could be the result of its citizens' genetic make-up, and the paper is attracting charges of genetic determinism, and even racism. But the economists say that they have been misunderstood, and are merely using genetics as a proxy for other factors that can drive an economy, such as history and culture."
If you RTFA (Score:4, Informative)
you see the following:
The paper argues that there are strong links between estimates of genetic diversity for 145 countries and per-capita incomes, even after accounting for myriad factors such as economic-based migration.
Re:Correlation is not causation (Score:4, Informative)
I recommend you read this article: Correlation is not causation : The Internet Blowhardâ(TM)s Favorite Phrase
The correlation phrase has become so common and so irritating that a minor backlash has now ensued against the rhetoric if not the concept. No, correlation does not imply causation, but it sure as hell provides a hint.
Re:There is obviously a link here. (Score:4, Informative)
East Africa was literate a millennium before Europe.
North Africa and West Asia invented literacy.