East Asian countries had high average IQ’s—at or above the European and U.S. averages—well before they entered the ranks of the high income countries.
That suggests that the correlation would have been less at that earlier time, which suggests the idea that the correlation of average IQ and average income has varied over history. Perhaps it has become stronger with increasing technological level—that is, more opportunities to apply smarts?
That certainly seems possible. Imagine a would-be programming genius who is born now, versus born in the Stone Age—he could become the wealthiest human to ever live (Bill Gates) or just the best hunter in the tribe (to be optimistic...).
That suggests that the correlation would have been less at that earlier time, which suggests the idea that the correlation of average IQ and average income has varied over history. Perhaps it has become stronger with increasing technological level—that is, more opportunities to apply smarts?
That certainly seems possible. Imagine a would-be programming genius who is born now, versus born in the Stone Age—he could become the wealthiest human to ever live (Bill Gates) or just the best hunter in the tribe (to be optimistic...).