According to an article by Dr. Ranit Mishori in Parade magazine (see Parade.com), DNA may reveal whether one will make risky investments or play it safe. Apparently, she writes, "Risk-taking has been linked to variations in the genes that regulate the brain's seratonin and dopamine - chemicals that affect mood, anxiety, and addiction." Dr. Mishori quotes studies by a lab at Northwestern University, near Chicago.
This new field is called "Neuro-economics".
Imagine, if you will, if every member of the U.S. House and Senate, candidates for those jobs, candidates for President of the United States, bankers, investment sales people, corporate executives, anyone who can impact the financial future of the little guy, had to undergo mandatory testing? I wonder what the impact would be on their decisions if they knew they had a genetic tendency to risk disaster at the expense of others?
Taking this a bit further, I wonder if such genetic tests could identify what makes liberals, moderates, and conservatives tick, deep in their respective genetic pools? Would this information help we voters, if known in advance of an election? Would risk-takers elect risk-takers? I wonder if they would when they realize they are voting for someone who is willing to risk their financial future or personal safety?
This, of course, opens a can of worms when it comes to personal privacy issues. I mean, who would want to run for public office or hold a position of power if their deepest genetic secrets were revealed? I know I wouldn't but not because I am an admitted risk-taker, rather, I think that we should not know everything about everybody. I have, in fact, run for public office and have held positions of power over the financial future of others. On the other hand, my personal investments have been both risky and conservative so does that make me a moderate when it comes to money?
The genetic tendency to take risks is, I believe, at the root of the financial troubles of many average Americans. They took financial risks believing that their lives would go on unchanged. They believed, if they thought about it at all, that they could go into debt and not worry about paying the money back because their jobs seemed secure. Some invested in real estate believing they would make a killing, not being prepared should the bubble burst and got killed themselves. Others entered into home mortgages they thought they could afford, failing to read the fine print, blinded by their risk-taking tendency.
Neuroeconomics. Where do you think you swim in the genetic pool?
- Article Word Count: 424
- |
- Total Views: 86
- |
- permalink