National differences in intelligence and educational attainment

We examine the correlations between the national IQs of Lynn and Vanhanen (Lynn, R. and Vanhanen, T. (2002). IQ and the wealth of nations. Westport, CT: Praeger. Westport, CT: Praeger, Lynn, R. and Vanhanen, T. (2006). IQ and global inequality. Athens, GA: Washington Summit Books.) and educational attainment scores in math and science for 10- and 14-year olds in 25 countries and 46 countries (respectively) given in the TIMSS 2003 reports. It was found that national lQs had (attenuation corrected) correlations of between 0.92 and 1.00 with scores in math and science. The results are interpreted as a validation of the national IQs. They suggest that national differences in educational attainment may be attributable to differences in IQ, or alternatively that national IQs and in educational attainment are both indicators of the mental ability of national populations. It is also shown that national IQs are positively associated with national per capita income (r=.61). It is proposed that these have a reciprocal positive feedback relationship such that each augments the other. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.