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Modern Wisdom

#728 - Gregory Clark - Is Social Status Determined By Your Genetics?

Jan 6, 2024
Gregory Clark, a Professor of Economics at UC Davis, delves into the intriguing relationship between genetics and social status. He presents research demonstrating how hereditary factors can determine social standing across generations, highlighting the limited social mobility despite education. Clark discusses the role of physical attractiveness in shaping social status and how marriage patterns reinforce social stratification. Challenging conventional views, he reflects on the implications of these findings for meritocracy and the future of social equality.
01:27:04

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Quick takeaways

  • Social status is heavily predetermined by genetics, limiting social mobility for descendants.
  • Genetic similarity predicts the correlation of social status, challenging the dominance of cultural factors.

Deep dives

Strong inheritance of social status through genetics

Research suggests that social status is heavily predetermined by genetics, with descendants having a limited chance of escaping their inherited position. The correlation of social status has remained consistent over 400 years, indicating little change in social mobility. Furthermore, the correlation of social status can be predicted based on genetic similarity, supporting the idea of genetic transmission. These findings challenge the belief that cultural factors play a dominant role in social hierarchy.

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