Preprint of a new paper examining the material conditions that give rise to internationally recognized scientists just came out. The authors argue that if we were actually recognizing and nurturing scientific talent, we’d expect the family income distribution of Nobel laureates to be roughly normal (i.e. most Nobel winners would come from families with incomes around the 50th percentile). Their results very much do not bear this out: the average Nobel winner grew up in a household in the about the 90th percentile of income no matter where they grew up, with disproportionately large numbers coming from the 95th percentile and up. This strongly suggests that academic achievement, especially at the highest levels, is not a meritocracy, but rather limited by the material conditions of birth.
I know, but the size of the effect is really staggering.
To be honest, you could replicate this same graph for everything and anything in life. To me personally, it really isn’t news, neither is the size of the effect. Social mobility in western society is insanely low (and honestly not amazing anywhere). :same-graph:
However, this fact really does need to be hammered into peoples’ heads: Even if you only care about meritocracy, capitalism is an awful system as we’re clearly denying ~90% of potential achievers from achieving by allowing this kind of inequality. The wealth you’re born into is the biggest indicator of success in life, to such an insane degree that it’s borderline the ONLY indicator of your chance of success in life.
Even revolutionary leaders are most typically bourgeoisie-born class traitors. Turns out having food, education, stable family, reliable shelter and healthcare, and opportunities in life really, really helps.