The Economics and Econometrics of Gene-Environment Interplay

Pietro Biroli (), Titus Galama, Stephanie von Hinke, Hans van Kippersluis, Cornelius Rietveld and Kevin Thom
Additional contact information
Hans van Kippersluis: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Cornelius Rietveld: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Kevin Thom: University of Wisconsin

No 22-019/V, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: Economists and social scientists have debated the relative importance of nature (one’s genes) and nurture (one’s environment) for decades, if not centuries. This debate can now be informed by the ready availability of genetic data in a growing number of social science datasets. This paper explores the potential uses of genetic data in economics, with a focus on estimating the interplay between nature (genes) and nurture (environment). We discuss how economists can benefit from incorporating genetic data into their analyses even when they do not have a direct interest in estimating genetic effects. We argue that gene–environment (G × E) studies can be instrumental for (i) testing economic theory, (ii) uncovering economic or behavioral mechanisms, and (iii) analyzing treatment effect heterogeneity, thereby improving the understanding of how (policy) interventions affect population subgroups. We introduce the reader to essential genetic terminology, develop a conceptual economic model to interpret gene–environment interplay, and provide practical guidance to empirical researchers.

Keywords: Gene-by-Environment Interplay; Polygenic Indices; Social Science Genetics ALSPAC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 D3 I1 I2 J1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-03-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ban, nep-cwa and nep-hpe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://papers.tinbergen.nl/22019.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: The Economics and Econometrics of Gene-Environment Interplay (2022)
Working Paper: Economics and Econometrics of Gene-Environment Interplay (2022)
Working Paper: The Economics and Econometrics of Gene-Environment Interplay (2022)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tin:wpaper:20220019

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Tinbergen Office +31 (0)10-4088900 ().