What It Really Means To Be Left-Handed
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The document discusses the implications of being left-handed, revealing that lefties, who comprise about 12% of the population, may face disadvantages such as lower earnings and higher rates of emotional and learning issues compared to right-handed individuals. Research by economist Joshua Goodman indicates that left-handed individuals are more likely to score lower on tests and have less educational attainment, suggesting that left-handedness is generally a disadvantage. However, lefties born to left-handed mothers tend to have outcomes similar to right-handed individuals, hinting that early maternal influences may mitigate some negative effects.
What It Really Means To Be Left-Handed
- 1. WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE left-handedRead the full article on Bloomberg View Peter Orszsag
- 2. We used to assume being left- handed made you special. Right?
- 3. Only around 12% of people in the world are lefties.
- 4. The brain of a left-handed person works differently than that of a right-handed person.
- 5. The brain of a left-handed person works differently than that of a right-handed person. But does belonging to the 12 percent bring some IQ or other benefit?
- 6. A Harvard economist named Joshua Goodman found that being left- handed may actually be a curse.
- 7. A Harvard economist named Joshua Goodman found that being left- handed may actually be a curse. Goodman’s research established that lefties earn about 10 to 12 percent less than righties
- 8. Goodman’s research found that lefties have:
- 9. Goodman’s research found that lefties have: more emotional and behavioral problems
- 10. Goodman’s research found that lefties have: more emotional and behavioral problems more learning disabilities
- 11. Goodman’s research found that lefties have: more emotional and behavioral problems more learning disabilities complete less schooling
- 12. Goodman’s research found that lefties have: more emotional and behavioral problems more learning disabilities complete less schooling work in occupations requiring less cognitive skill
- 13. Other stats Goodman found:
- 14. Other stats Goodman found: Lefties are three or four percentage points more likely to be in the bottom tenth of test scores than righties.
- 15. Other stats Goodman found: Lefties are three or four percentage points more likely to be in the bottom tenth of test scores than righties. Lefties in the U.S. are less likely to be in the top 10 percent of cognitive skills.
- 16. What’s the bottom line?
- 17. According to Goodman’s study, for most people, being lefty is a disadvantage.
- 18. According to Goodman’s study, for most people, being lefty is a disadvantage. But there’s good news…
- 19. Lefties born to left-handed mothers have outcomes similar to righties.
- 20. What could explain this?
- 22. Here's one theory. Right-handed children of left-handed mothers experience adverse effects that are similar to left-handed children of right-handed mothers, according to Goodman’s findings.
- 23. From early childhood, if you are born with a different predominant hand than your mother, you might face more economic obstacles throughout your life. It's possible that learning to mimic one’s mother in early learning is more challenging when handedness differs between mother and child.