No Argument with Biology? The Effects of Genetic Explanations for Socioeconomic Outcomes on American and Swedish Citizens' Attitudes Towards Government Intervention.

Abstract

For half a century, scholars have debated the societal implications of research that suggests genetic explanations for socioeconomic disparities. However, studies of whether and how such genetic explanations affect the attitudes of citizens are surprisingly limited. Using two identical, pre-registered survey experiments fielded in the United States (N=2003) and Sweden (N=2005), this study tests whether a short, twin study-based genetic explanation for income and education differences leads to citizens adopting a lower perceived possibility, as well as a lower perceived fairness, of the government reducing socioeconomic differences. The results do not provide systematic evidence to this effect. Rather, there are indications that citizens increase their belief in the effectiveness, as well as in the fairness of government intervention. Most clearly, the treatment increased citizens' support for a set of redistributive policy proposals, particularly in Sweden. Overall, however, the treatment effects appear to have been limited. This is likely attributable to the experimental manipulation being inadequate in magnitude. This study suggests that genetic explanations for socioeconomic differences do not necessarily have to cause a naturalization of inequality among citizens, but further research on this important topic is needed.