Chapter 7, Unemployment, Idleness, and Injury, Chapter 8, Family Matters Summary and Analysis

Unemployed people are understood as pursuing work but failing to achieve it. But there are others not looking. Both are strongly correlated with low IQ for whites. Most of out of the labor force were in college or graduate school but of those not in school, 15% spent a month or more outside of work in 1989. That number was twice that in those with low IQs and socioeconomic background does not explain it.

Why are some out of work? Physical disability is one cause, but low IQ still is a good predictor. Of those who see themselves as too disabled to work, nine out of ten fell in the bottom 25% of IQ and less than 5% were in the top 25%. It is not clear why IQ and physical difficulties...