Genes and Gini: What Inequality Means for Heritability

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Selita, Fatos and Kovas, Yulia. 2018. Genes and Gini: What Inequality Means for Heritability. Journal of Biosocial Science, 51(1), pp. 18-47. ISSN 0021-9320 [Article]

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932017000645

Abstract or Description

Research has established that genetic differences among people explain a greater or smaller proportion of the variation in life outcomes in different environmental conditions. This review evaluates the results of recent educationally relevant behavioural genetic studies and meta-analysesin the context of recent trends in income and wealth distribution. The pattern of results suggests that inequality and social policies can have profound effects on heritability of educational attainment and achievement in a population (Gene-Gini interplay). For example, heritability is generally higher at greater equality levels, suggesting that inequality stifles the expression of educationally relevant genetic propensities.The review concludes with a discussion of the mechanisms of Gene-Giniinterplay and what the findings mean for efforts to optimize education for all people.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932017000645

Additional Information:

This work was supported by the Tomsk State University Competitiveness Improvement Program (Grant 8.1.09.2017).