So true. As I read the article, I couldn't help thinking of the latest Less Wrong post about "Levels of Action." In particular:
Studies have shown that there is a significant positive correlation between alcohol use, and income in life. Why would that be? Drinking alcohol doesn't make you smarter. Nor does it make you work harder, or become more skilled, or gain additional knowledge. I think the reason is that alcohol is disinhibitory.
well if you sampled the 6 billion people in the world, yes, rich people drink alcohol.
I think its a bit like saying 'rich people drive Ferraris' - yes, of course! having a lot of disposable income will obviously lead to the ability to purchase luxury, non-essential items like alcohol.
That is an interesting statement. I'd estimate that the sample would show that alcohol was used by people with a broad range of income levels. However, the only way a hunter-gatherer (as described by Diamond) would obtain alcohol is to trade with a farmer or someone who can do the meta-work required for alcohol and supported by farming.
On the positive correlation between alcohol use and income: I think it's because alcohol is socially disinhibitory, and expected to be that way, and this makes it socially useful for, e.g., getting information out of people that they'd usually guard. Most office politics is learned at the bar. If you ask someone, at 3:00 pm, certain pointed questions, you're a creep and a gossip. If you ask those questions after-hours at the bar when everyone's "supposed" to be drunk and loose-lipped, no one gives a shit.
