Polygenic Index Explains 1–5% Income

A genome‑wide association study of 668,288 Europeans found 162 loci tied to an underlying 'Income Factor' and produced a polygenic index that accounts for roughly 1–5% of individual income variance. Effects are tiny for individuals but measurable at the population level and intersect with education, health, and policy variables. — Quantifying a small but robust genetic component to income reframes conversations about the causes of inequality, the limits of meritocratic narratives, and the risks of genetic credentialing or discrimination in policy.