Genetic Influences on Educational Achievement in Cross-National Perspective

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Ressource 1Download: Baier at al. 2022.pdf (482.39 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_09DF7BB4CA53
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Genetic Influences on Educational Achievement in Cross-National Perspective
Journal
European Sociological Review
Author(s)
Baier Tina, Lang Volker, Grätz Michael, Barclay Kieron J, Conley Dalton C, Dawes Christopher T, Laidley Thomas, Lyngstad Torkild H
ISSN
0266-7215
1468-2672
Publication state
Published
Issued date
23/02/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Language
english
Abstract
There is a growing interest in how social conditions moderate genetic influences on education [gene–environment interactions (GxE)]. Previous research has focused on the family, specifically parents’ social background, and has neglected the institutional environment. To assess the impact of macro-level influences, we compare genetic influences on educational achievement and their social stratification across Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. We combine well-established GxE-conceptualizations with the comparative stratification literature and propose that educational systems and welfare-state regimes affect the realization of genetic potential. We analyse population-representative survey data on twins (Germany and the United States) and twin registers (Norway and Sweden), and estimate genetically sensitive variance decomposition models. Our comparative design yields three main findings. First, Germany stands out with comparatively weak genetic influences on educational achievement suggesting that early tracking limits the realization thereof. Second, in the United States genetic influences are comparatively strong and similar in size compared to the Nordic countries. Third, in Sweden genetic influences are stronger among disadvantaged families supporting the expectation that challenging and uncertain circumstances promote genetic expression. This ideosyncratic finding must be related to features of Swedish social institutions or welfare-state arrangements that are not found in otherwise similar countries.
Keywords
Sociology and Political Science
Open Access
Yes
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation / PZ00P1_180128
Create date
24/02/2022 11:00
Last modification date
25/02/2022 7:08
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