<Do you dispute my contention that number of offspring is inversely correlated with wealth?>
Yes. I was saying that your contention applies for the smarter half of the population, but I doubt that it applies for the bottom decile or even quartile.
My guess is that those below IQ 70 have 0.2 children per person [in average IQ 100 countries, not African ones where averages are very low]. I guess there's a bulge to a peak of about 2.2 in the IQ 100 range, and an inverse correlation with wealth, and IQ, over 110, dropping to an average 1.8 per person over IQ 120.
I suppose there is actual data somewhere.
My carefully analyzed mathematical model gives a continuing increase in average intelligence, matching the Flynn Effect and increasing numbers of very smart people, who bubble out of the more average mob as genetic combinations come up with the right stuff from time to time. One doesn't need the very smart to breed to get very smart people, though of course it helps, as with getting good race horses.
<I'm sure I've seen figures showing the decline in birth rate as the standard of living rises in a country.>
I think the declining birth rate enables women to work so the wealth per capita goes up, rather than the usually-claimed reverse, of women having fewer children because they are educated and wealthier.
It's a social phenomenon, a cultural shift, and major paradigm shift happens.
With the bottom decile removed every generation, that's quite a propulsion to a higher average, even if the smartest quartile has somewhat fewer children per capita than the average. Don't forget "accidents" remove a lot of lower quartile males.
Mqurice |
