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Richard Bicker's avatar

Good review. Appreciated inclusion of other sources on African dysfunction over time.

Gregory Connor's avatar

A huge part of the cause of African dysfunctionality is low average African IQ arising from genetic variation across ancestries. I can mention that causal factor on a Kirkegaard substack comments page, but it cannot be stated plainly in mainstream books and articles. The complete absence of that (partial but substantial) explanation makes it frustrating to read the academic literature in this area. Once you see it clearly, it is difficult to un-see it and read this stuff.

Emil O. W. Kirkegaard's avatar

These ancestry effects are rather obvious when looking around the world. I guess the main issue is that people get confused by the selection effects, mainly for US immigrants. Indians do well there, and decently well in other western countries, but not so well at home.

Gregory Connor's avatar

Indian immigration to the US is doubly selective since India has a genetically diverse set of sub-populations (as noted by David Reich) and the US selects higher-intelligence individuals from the higher-average-intelligence subpopulations.

air dog's avatar

The road to hell is paved with foreign aid.