Unequal Chances or Unequal Abilities | Gregory Clark | TEDxSonomaCounty

Gregory Clark explores the drivers behind social mobility. What his research shows may challenge your beliefs.
Gregory Clark is a Professor of Economics at UC Davis, an editor of the European Review of Economic History, chair of the steering committee of the All-UC Group in Economic History, and a Research Associate of the Center for Poverty Research at Davis. Professor Clark’s path from the rain of the West of Scotland to the sunshine of California was by way of degrees at King’s College, Cambridge, and Harvard, and faculty positions at Stanford University and University of Michigan.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ulquiohime5694]

I'm taking economic history class with him this quarter, enjoy his lecture very much. : )

[@thembrown]

great book - good speech with moments of genuine comedy. how do I work for this man?

[@vanrensburgsgesicht4048]

10:00 It is always nice to see new studies, but he does not need to invent the wheel again. I will just leave an excerpt from Volkmar Weiss recension on Clark's "Farewell to Alm": "Despite Clark's staying of one sabbatical year at the Wissenschaftskolleg (Institute for Advanced Study) in Berlin, he does not cite any German source. In the Inventory of the German Central Office for Genealogy. Part IV (second edition, 1998, ISBN 3-7686-2099-9), he could find not only a complete bibliography of historical demography of Central Europe, based on local family reconstitutions, but also an exhaustive review (p. 74-176) of studies of differential fertility supporting his core argument. Clark could strengthen his point immediately, if he were able to read original papers and books in French, Dutch, German and Swedish, because the development in West, Central and Northern Europe was in principle the same as in England."

[@pawelmagnowski2014]

Is the effect due to genotype or social capital of the family?

[@jaysalhan3684]

One word: Mindset.

[@FlyingElbow]

genotype from his further research

[@pietervoogt]

I'm afraid he is so nice that he underestimates the possible negative interpretations. I agree with him that this implies we should help the poor because they are unfairly disadvantaged, but many people may just be proud that they are from superior families and think this gives them special rights. (People also hate inheritance taxes while rationally it is the most justified tax.) Social Darwinism might be more popular than he thinks.

[@OptimalOwl]

But doesn't that come out the same way either way? Either you are the way you are because of social factors outside of your control plus randomness, or you are the way you are because of biological factors outside of your control plus randomness. There are a wide range of social philosophies that you could draw from either one, e.g. a _noblesse oblige_ to accomplish great things or to care for those less fortunate, or a For Whom The Bell (curve) Tolls humility, or a licence by your deity or metaphysic of choice to do whatever you want. I mean I've seen people say "oh, 50% of individual variance being genetic means free will is a lie, this is so horrible." But then the same people turn around and say "your home environment and education explains 50% of individual variance," seemingly oblivious to the exactly analogous argument which should surely be equally valid or invalid for exactly the same reasons.

[@marcv2648]

"People also hate inheritance taxes while rationally it is the most justified tax." How do you rationalize that?

[@pietervoogt]

@@marcv2648 Because the person receiving inheritance never worked for it. Being born to rich or poor parents is completely undeserved

[@marcv2648]

@@pietervoogt We were all born with lots of things we never worked for. Including language, food, shelter, culture, etc, etc.

[@pietervoogt]

@@marcv2648 That is why actually nothing is deserved. But for the functioning of society we reward effort.

[@MrJDMs3]

This man is a ray sis!!!

[@happy20120808]

His voice sounds strange..

[@iraqwarveteran470]

that's because he's a eugenicist freak who worked for nazis in his past life