ICES Experimental Economics Brown Bag Lecture
Genetic Influences on Economically Relevant Traits: New Evidence From Sib Pairs and Molecular Genetic Data
Thursday, February 20, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EST
Vernon Smith Hall (formerly Metropolitan Building), Room 5075
The Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science (ICES) presents an ICES Brown Bag Lecture featuring:
George Mason University
Genetic Influences on Economically Relevant Traits: New Evidence From Sib Pairs and Molecular Genetic Data
Abstract
A consequence of Mendel’s First Law is that siblings’ genetic relatedness varies randomly (with a mean of 50% and a standard deviation of ∼ 3.5%). We use molecular genetic data to compute the genetic relatedness of ∼80,000 sib pairs. We then compare the pairs’ genetic relatedness to their similarity on 15 outcomes in the labor market, cognitive and educational, risk taking, health, and anthropometric domains, to estimate heritability and evaluate family environmental influences on each outcome. We find evidence of sizeable genetic influences on risk tolerance, subjective wellbeing, fertility, cognitive performance, height, and BMI, and of family environmental influences on several outcome.
For more information about the Brown Bag Lectures, please visit the Brown Bag Schedule homepage.
