Using Danish Twins Registry and population data, we link twins with their relatives to evaluate the controversial assumptions of the classic twin model and decompose socioeconomic inequality into genetic (heritability) and environmental factors. We reject the equal environments assumption, finding that the classic model overestimates heritability. Heritability explains 9% of variation in education and 14-16% in earnings, income, and wealth, helping to fill the ‘missing heritability’ gap between the classic twin model and Genome-Wide Association Studies. Shared environments account for 26-42% of these variances and 45-81% of intergenerational persistence. These findings reconcile estimates from twin and adoptee studies.
This workshop aims to bring together researchers to explore the latest developments and insights on the factors that drive socioeconomic disparities from distinct perspectives. We aim to build a comprehensive understanding of how inequalities emerge and are sustained across generations.
The workshop will cover a range of key drivers of socioeconomic inequalities, including:
- Genes and Environment
- Assortative Mating
- Firms and Labor Markets
- Schools and Neighborhoods
- Intergenerational Transmission
Keynote Speakers:
Stephanie von Hinke (University of Bristol)
Erik Plug (University of Amsterdam)
Jan Stuhler (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid).
The workshop is part the ORIGINS project supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) C21/SC/15771764. Learn more about the ORIGINS project.
