Modern Wisdom #728 - Gregory Clark - Is Social Status Determined By Your Genetics?
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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.
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Social Status Inheritance
- Social status inheritance is stronger than believed and hasn't changed in 400 years.
- Predicting social correlation depends on genetic correlation, suggesting genetic transmission's significant role.
Methodology of Tracking Genetics
- Researchers study social status inheritance using lineage data, not direct genetic evidence.
- They analyze correlations between relatives and compare them to genetic model predictions.
Parental Influence and Birth Order
- Mothers and fathers equally influence children's outcomes, except for wealth, which flows paternally.
- Birth order rarely matters, except for the oldest sons in elite families who inherit more.