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Does the intelligence of populations determine the wealth of nations?

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  • Daniele, Vittorio

Abstract

Can the average intelligence quotient (IQ) of populations be considered the root cause of international development inequalities? Psychologists and some economic studies have proposed the existence of a link between intelligence quotient and economic development. The paper tests this hypothesis, using different measures of economic development for the year 1500. Consistent with Jared Diamond's (1997) hypothesis, the paper shows how the differences in the timing of agriculture transition and the histories of States, not population IQ differences, predict international development differences before the colonial era. The average IQ of populations appears to be endogenous, related to the diverse stages of nations’ modernization, rather than being an exogenous cause of economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniele, Vittorio, 2013. "Does the intelligence of populations determine the wealth of nations?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 27-37.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:46:y:2013:i:c:p:27-37
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2013.06.005
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    Cited by:

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    2. Oasis Kodila-Tedika & Simplice A. Asongu & Julio Mukendi Kayembe, 2016. "Middle Class in Africa: Determinants and Consequences," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 527-549, October.
    3. Odilova, Shoirahon & Xiaomin, Gu, 2016. "IPR protection, intelligence and economic growth: a cross-country empirical investigation," MPRA Paper 71226, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Salahodjaev, Raufhon & Odilova, Shoirahon & Andrés, Antonio R., 2016. "Intelligence and Crime: A novel evidence for software piracy," MPRA Paper 71569, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Oana Borcan & Ola Olsson & Louis Putterman, 2018. "State history and economic development: evidence from six millennia," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 1-40, March.
    6. Oasis Kodila-Tedika & Remy Bolito-Losembe, 2014. "Poverty and Intelligence: Evidence using Quantile Regression," Economic Research Guardian, Weissberg Publishing, vol. 4(1), pages 25-32, June.
    7. V. L. Tambovtsev, 2019. "Institutions-technologies interaction and economic growth," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 20(2), pages 55-70, May.
    8. Evgeniya, Gorlova, 2016. "TFP and Intelligence: a cross-national empirical evidence," MPRA Paper 69207, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Lynn, Richard & Fuerst, John & Kirkegaard, Emil O.W., 2018. "Regional Differences in Intelligence in 22 Countries and their Economic, Social and Demographic Correlates: A Review," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 24-36.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intelligence quotient; Economic development; Evolutionary psychology; Racial theories of intelligence; Flynn effect; Economic inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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