What It Really Means To Be Left-Handed

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WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE left-handed Read the full article on Bloomberg View Peter Orszsag

Transcript of What It Really Means To Be Left-Handed

We used to assume being left-handed made you special. Right?

Only around 12% of people in theworld are lefties.

The brain of a left-handed personworks differently than that of aright-handed person.

The brain of a left-handed personworks differently than that of aright-handed person.

But does belonging to the 12percent bring some IQ or otherbenefit?

A Harvard economist named JoshuaGoodman found that being left-handed may actually be a curse.

A Harvard economist named JoshuaGoodman found that being left-handed may actually be a curse.

Goodman’s research establishedthat lefties earn about 10 to 12percent less than righties

Goodman’s research found that lefties have:

Goodman’s research found that lefties have:

more emotional and behavioral problems

Goodman’s research found that lefties have:

more emotional and behavioral problemsmore learning disabilities

Goodman’s research found that lefties have:

more emotional and behavioral problemsmore learning disabilities complete less schooling

Goodman’s research found that lefties have:

more emotional and behavioral problemsmore learning disabilities complete less schoolingwork in occupations requiring less cognitive skill

Other stats Goodman found:

Other stats Goodman found:

Lefties are three or four percentagepoints more likely to be in the bottomtenth of test scores than righties.

Other stats Goodman found:

Lefties are three or four percentagepoints more likely to be in the bottomtenth of test scores than righties.

Lefties in the U.S. are less likely to be in the top10 percent of cognitive skills.

What’s the bottom line?

According to Goodman’s study, for most people, being lefty is adisadvantage.

According to Goodman’s study, for most people, being lefty is adisadvantage.

But there’s good news…

Lefties born to left-handed mothershave outcomes similar to righties.

What could explain this?

Here's one theory.

Here's one theory.

Right-handed children of left-handedmothers experience adverse effectsthat are similar to left-handed childrenof right-handed mothers, according toGoodman’s findings.

From early childhood, if you are bornwith a different predominant handthan your mother, you might face moreeconomic obstacles throughout yourlife.

It's possible that learning to mimicone’s mother in early learning is morechallenging when handedness differsbetween mother and child.