Genetic Income Factor Explains 1–5%

A genome‑wide association study of 668,288 Europeans finds 162 loci associated with a common 'Income Factor' and builds a polygenic index that accounts for roughly 1–5% of variation in income. Effects are small and partly mediated by education and health, but the index is measurable and replicable across cohorts. — If robust, a genetic signal for income reframes debates about the causes of socioeconomic inequality, the interpretation of education and health gradients, and the ethical limits of using polygenic indices in policy or hiring.