They’re more likely to be criminals! Or at least they were in 19th-century Pennsylvania, according to a new working?paper by Howard Bodenhorn, Carolyn Moehling, and Gregory N. Price. The authors don’t identify a reason for the height differential, but do point out that “[i]f in early America, short individuals faced labor market disadvantage because of either lower productivity due to lesser physical capacity for heavy work, lesser productivity due to lower cognitive ability, or because they faced discrimination, the relative opportunity costs of crime would be lower which would increase the likelihood of transitioning into criminal activity.”[%comments]
More Bad News for the Height-Challenged
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This reminds me of my great-grandfather Joseph Drury. I never knew him, but my mom told me about him. He stood 5-5, a stark contrast to the men in my generation, who are all 5-11 and up. But due to his short stature, Joseph became a gun runner for the IRA in 1916. Since his appearance was so non-threatening, he could get through security checkpoints armed to the teeth. I hear he was very charming if you got to know him. My mom sure liked him.
Or is it possible they were just that much more likely arrested and convicted due to bias on the part of John Law?
Being a criminal isn’t a bad life — the head of a mob or gang (e.g. the Black Gangster Disciple Nation) from Freakonomics could make much more money than someone working in the legal marker.
A useless observation because there is no link to a publication, nor an evaluation of the evidence and strength of the relationships, if any. The authors may be correct, they may be wrong. The Times reader, on the basis of what is presented, can not make an independent judgement.
“short individuals [...] lesser productivity due to lower cognitive ability”
What?!?! Short == Stupid?!!
Probably nutrition and poverty are the actual drivers.
But Phrenology was quite common then, so head bumps and shape and all physiognomy were all used to predict personality and character traits.
Be careful, it’s all malarky! Although, I do think it is undeniable that “Short people have no reason to live….”
Short People
Randy Newman
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live
They got little hands
And little eyes
And they walk around
Tellin’ great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little fett
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Round here
Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It’s A Wonderful World)
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love
They got little baby legs
And they stand so low
You got to pick ‘em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That got beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin’ peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They’re gonna get you every time
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
‘Round here