A recent study conducted by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden has challenged the widely held belief that a person’s intelligence quotient (IQ) is directly correlated with their income. The study analyzed data from 59,000 Swedish men whose cognitive abilities were measured during mandatory military testing at ages 18-19, and combined this with their income at ages 35-45. The researchers found that while there is a correlation between income and cognitive abilities, the highest earners are not necessarily the most intelligent. In fact, the ultra-rich, who make up the top 1% of earners, were found to have slightly lower IQs than the income group just below them.
The study is significant because it is the first to use reliable income data that covers the entire income spectrum, including the highest earners. The researchers were able to access this data because in Sweden, every citizen’s tax return is publicly available. The findings suggest that while regular salaries are based on individual cognitive abilities, this is not the case for top earners. The study also found that differences in professional prestige, such as between doctors, lawyers, and professors, are not related to cognitive abilities.
However, the study has limitations. It only analyzed data from Swedish-born men and did not take into account non-cognitive factors such as motivation, social skills, creativity, or emotional stability. Additionally, the relevance of cognitive abilities varies between professions, with the academic sector, where they are most important, not necessarily being the highest paid. Despite these limitations, the study challenges the assumption that high earners are always the most intelligent and suggests that the distribution of income may not always be related to cognitive abilities.
In conclusion, the study provides new insights into the relationship between intelligence and income. While there is a correlation between the two, the highest earners are not necessarily the most intelligent. The study highlights the need for further research to better understand the factors that contribute to income distribution and professional success.
