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Economic inequality cannot be explained by individual bad choices, study finds (phys.org)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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A global study led by a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and published in the journal Scientific Reports finds that economic inequality on a social level cannot be explained by bad choices among the poor nor by good decisions among the rich. Poor decisions were the same across all income groups, including for people who have overcome poverty.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

While online surveys seem like not the best method this is interesting. I would love to see more studies like this. It's really hard to show systemic problems and people have a really hard time believing that this exists since they can find anecdotal examples to the contrary

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 years ago (2 children)

people have a really hard time believing that this exists since they can find anecdotal examples to the contrary

"I once met someone who rolled a 12 with 2 dice. Why did those other people not choose to roll better than a 7 on average? Must be because of bad decisions."

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I once met someone who rolled a 12 with 2 dice. Why did those other people not choose to roll better than a 7 on average? Must be because of bad decisions.

This same person rolled a 12 twice. Everyone else is an idiot. Just roll out good

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I knew a guy whose grandparents rolled three 12s in a row, now he keeps knocking the die off the table, but is allowed to do it again and again because of the good choices of his grandparents.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Meanwhile these people are rolling d20's while the average person is lucky to have a d4 and a d6

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

There's a great analogy that I was introduced to a while back,

Life is like a carnival dart throw game.

Middle class kids get one throw. Most hit the board somewhere in the "doing okay" region, some miss the board completely, but a small number actually hit the bullseye. They're the rags-to-riches success stories.

Rich kids get as many throws as they want.

Poor kids? They don't get a throw, they're the ones working the booth.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Right!? Winners win. Just win dummy!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

You're one of those boffin types who think you know everything, are you? But my gran said people like you are arrogant so I'll rather believe the snake oil salesmen. Checkmate leftists!