Toxoplasmose, cultura e crescimento

O artigo ganha o prêmio de variável instrumental mais estranha da paróquia: a prevalência de toxoplasmose.

MASELAND, R. Parasitical cultures? The cultural origins of institutions and development. Journal of Economic Growth, v. 18, n. 2, p. 109–136, 1 jun. 2013.

Um trecho:

"Effects of latent infection differ between men and women. For men, it reduces intelligence, novelty-seeking, and rule-conscious, dutiful, conscientious, and moralistic behavior. Women, by contrast, tend to become more intelligent and conscientious, as well as more outgoing and affectionate. For both men and women, infection may result in increased insecurity, guilt, worrying, and self-doubting (Flegr et al 2000). On the societal level, these effects imply that high prevalence is associated with more differentiated gender roles, increased neuroticism, and more uncertainty avoidance (Lafferty 2006)."

Eu coloco o estudo na pilha: gosto, mas não acredito. Uma versão aberta, anterior, está aqui.

(Agradeço ao Shikida e ao Pedro Sant'Anna pelo envio do artigo).