Genetics Explain 1–5% of Income

A genome‑wide study of 668,288 Europeans found 162 loci tied to a common 'Income Factor' and built a polygenic score that predicts only 1–5% of income differences. The work suggests a real but small genetic component and highlights potential genetic confounding in the link between income and health. — It calibrates claims about heredity and inequality, guiding how media, policymakers, and researchers interpret SES–health causality and the limits of genetic prediction for social outcomes.