IQ and the Wealth of Nations

Richard Lynn, Tatu Vanhanen

Greenwood Publishing Group, Jan 1, 2002 - Business & Economics - 298 pages

Lynn and Vanhanen test the hypothesis on the causal relationship between the average national intelligence (IQ) and the gap between rich and poor countries by empirical evidence. Based on an extensive survey of national IQ tests, the results of their work challenge the previous theories of economic development and provide a new basis to evaluate the prospects of economic development throughout the world.

They begin by reviewing and evaluating some major previous theories. The concept of intelligence is then described and intelligence quotient (IQ) introduced. Next they show that intelligence is a significant determinant of earnings within nations, and they connect intelligence with various economic and social phenomena. The sociology of intelligence at the level of sub-populations in nations is examined, and the independent (national IQ) and dependent (various measures of per capita income and economic growth rates) variables are defined and described. They then provide empirical analyses starting from the 81 countries for which direct evidence of national IQs is available; the analysis is then extended to the world group of 185 countries. The hypothesis is tested by the methods of correlation and regression analyses. The results of statistical analyses support the hypothesis strongly. The results of the analyses and various means to reduce the gap between rich and poor countries are discussed. A provocative analysis that all scholars, students, and researchers involved with economic development need to confront.

Contents

• Why Are Some Countries So Rich and Others So Poor?: 1
• Intelligence An Introduction to the Concept: 19
• Intelligence and Earnings: 27
• Intelligence and Further Economic and Social Phenomena: 37
• The Sociology of Intelligence Earnings and Social Competence: 49
• Data on Variables and Methods of Analysis: 59
• National IQs and Economic Development in 81 Nations: 87
• National IQs and Economic Development in 185 Countries: 109
• Intelligence and Markets as the Determinants of Economic Development: 159
• The Future of the Wealth of Nations: 183
• The Calculation of National Intelligence Levels: 197
• Data on Per Capita Income and Economic Growth in 185 Countries: 227
• Bibliography: 273
• Index: 291

About the author

RICHARD LYNN is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland.TATU VANHANEN is Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of Tampere and Docent Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Bibliographic information

• Title: IQ and the Wealth of Nations; ABC-Clio ebook; Human Evolution, Behavior, and Intelligence Series, ISSN 1063-2158
• Authors: Richard Lynn, Tatu Vanhanen
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002
• ISBN: 027597510X, 9780275975104
• Length: 298 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / Development / Economic Development; Psychology / Cognitive Psychology; Social Science / Developing & Emerging Countries