The thesis that socio-economic disparities between Southern and Northern Italian regions areexplained by genetic differences in the average IQ is examined (Lynn, 2010a, 2012). Historicaldata on income, infant mortality and life expectancy, offer scant support to a possible nexusbetween IQ differences and socio-economic development. The ancient history of Southern Italy isalso inconsistent with a supposed Phoenician and Arab adverse genetic impact on the average IQof Southern populations. The paper proposes that regional IQ differences reflect North–Southdisparities in education and socio-economic development levels. The significant increases inmeanscholastic achievement tests, registered in the Italian South in the period 2003–2012, support thisconclusion.
Two Italies? Genes, intelligence and the Italian North–South economic divide
Daniele V
2015-01-01
Abstract
The thesis that socio-economic disparities between Southern and Northern Italian regions areexplained by genetic differences in the average IQ is examined (Lynn, 2010a, 2012). Historicaldata on income, infant mortality and life expectancy, offer scant support to a possible nexusbetween IQ differences and socio-economic development. The ancient history of Southern Italy isalso inconsistent with a supposed Phoenician and Arab adverse genetic impact on the average IQof Southern populations. The paper proposes that regional IQ differences reflect North–Southdisparities in education and socio-economic development levels. The significant increases inmeanscholastic achievement tests, registered in the Italian South in the period 2003–2012, support thisconclusion.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
