Gene-Environment Interplay in the Social Sciences

TL;DR

This paper discusses how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence health and human capital, emphasizing the potential and challenges of using genetic data in social science research and policy.

Contribution

It provides an overview of gene-environment interplay in social sciences and explores how genetic information can enhance understanding of social phenomena and inform policy.

Findings

Genetic data can improve understanding of individual decision making.

Gene-environment interactions influence inequality and social outcomes.

Using genetic information in social sciences is promising but requires careful interpretation.

Abstract

Nature (one's genes) and nurture (one's environment) jointly contribute to the formation and evolution of health and human capital over the life cycle. This complex interplay between genes and environment can be estimated and quantified using genetic information readily available in a growing number of social science data sets. Using genetic data to improve our understanding of individual decision making, inequality, and to guide public policy is possible and promising, but requires a grounding in essential genetic terminology, knowledge of the literature in economics and social-science genetics, and a careful discussion of the policy implications and prospects of the use of genetic data in the social sciences and economics.