Genes, security, tolerance and happiness

Ronald Inglehart (), Svetlana Borinskaya (), Anna Cotter (), Jaanus Harro (), Ronald Inglehart (), Eduard Ponarin () and Christian Welzel ()
Additional contact information
Ronald Inglehart: Higher School of Economics
Svetlana Borinskaya: Institute of General Genetics, Moscow, Russia
Anna Cotter: University of Michigan
Jaanus Harro: Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonian Centre of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Ronald Inglehart: University of Michigan
Eduard Ponarin: Higher School of Economics
Christian Welzel: Center for the Study of Democracy, Leuphana University, Scharnhorststr.

HSE Working papers from National Research University Higher School of Economics

Abstract: This paper discusses correlations between certain genetic characterestics of the human populations and their aggregate levels of tolerance and happiness. We argue that a major cause of the systematic clustering of genetic characteristics may be climatic conditions linked with relatively high or low levels of parasite. This may lead certain populations to develop gene pools linked with different levels of avoidance of strangers, which helped shape different cultures, both of which eventually helped shape economic development. Still more recently, this combination of distinctive cultural and economic and perhaps genetic factors has led some societies to more readily adopt gender equality and high levels of social tolerance, than others. More tolerant societies tend to be happier because they create a more relaxed environment conducive to happiness.

Keywords: genetic research; World Values Survey; happiness; tolerance. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2013
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-gro, nep-hap and nep-hpe
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published in WP BRP Series: Sociology / SOC, December 2013, pages 1-31

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hig:wpaper:31/soc/2013

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