Researchers from Linköping University in Sweden have considered the results from nearly 60,000 men aged 18-19 who participated in mandatory military service tests.
“Our focus on men is due to the availability of data, as only men undergo the military-related capability tests,” according to the study report. Sweden’s conscription process includes a series of physical, psychological, and cognitive tests that all men in this age group must complete.
They found that individuals with higher incomes tend to be more intelligent. However, this is only true for those with an annual income exceeding £60,000 (over 1.7 billion VND). Beyond this figure, intelligence does not correlate with salary.
Professor Marc Keuschnigg (the lead researcher) stated: “This suggests that those at the highest income levels may have benefited from a great deal of luck along their path or were born into privileged families.”
The study, published in the European Sociological Review, assessed intelligence on a broader basis than standard IQ tests. The tests for men in Sweden included questions to determine logical skills, spoken language comprehension, spatial abilities, and cognitive skills.
Looking at a person’s income cannot determine if they are a genius. (Illustration: Entrepreneur).
The maximum score was 9, but within the top 1% group, the proportion of men achieving a score of 9 was lower than that of men scoring highly in lower income brackets.
Most of the salaries collected from Swedish citizens in the study were considered average and correlated well with their cognitive abilities. Furthermore, the authors of the study found that occupation (another indicator of success in the workplace) does not represent an individual’s intelligence.
“It would be interesting to know if famous high-income Swedes (such as ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson) fall into the intelligent group,” Professor Keuschnigg remarked. “I am sure they are very intelligent and have achieved many accomplishments in life.”
This finding indicates that one cannot accurately determine whether someone is a genius just by looking at their income.
There is a notable wealth gap between individuals in the upper, middle, and lower classes. In the United States, this income inequality has only increased in recent years. In debates justifying wage differences, a common argument among high earners is that their unique talents allow them to earn more. However, aside from hard work, research shows no evidence that those in top-paying jobs earn more because they are smarter than those making half as much.
