论文标题
基因环境相互作用的经济学和计量经济学
The Economics and Econometrics of Gene-Environment Interplay
论文作者
论文摘要
经济学家和社会科学家已经辩论了数十年(即使不是几个世纪)的自然(一个人的基因)和养育(一个人的环境)的相对重要性。现在,可以通过越来越多的社会科学数据集中的遗传数据现成的遗传数据来告知这一辩论。本文探讨了遗传数据在经济学中的潜在用途,重点是估计自然(基因)和养育(环境)之间的相互作用。我们讨论经济学家如何将遗传数据纳入其分析中,即使他们对估计遗传效应没有直接兴趣。我们认为,基因 - 环境(GXE)的研究可能对(i)测试经济理论,(ii)发现经济或行为机制,以及(iii)分析治疗效果的异质性,从而提高对(政策)干预措施如何影响人群亚组的理解。我们向读者介绍了基本遗传学术语,开发了一种概念经济模型来解释基因环境相互作用,并为经验研究人员提供实践指导。
Economists and social scientists have debated the relative importance of nature (one's genes) and nurture (one's environment) for decades, if not centuries. This debate can now be informed by the ready availability of genetic data in a growing number of social science datasets. This paper explores the potential uses of genetic data in economics, with a focus on estimating the interplay between nature (genes) and nurture (environment). We discuss how economists can benefit from incorporating genetic data into their analyses even when they do not have a direct interest in estimating genetic effects. We argue that gene--environment (GxE) studies can be instrumental for (i) testing economic theory, (ii) uncovering economic or behavioral mechanisms, and (iii) analyzing treatment effect heterogeneity, thereby improving the understanding of how (policy) interventions affect population subgroups. We introduce the reader to essential genetic terminology, develop a conceptual economic model to interpret gene-environment interplay, and provide practical guidance to empirical researchers.