I'm not saying Fasces is correct. I'm saying your statement about SES is not quite correct either.

I would agree that neither sex nor race plays a part in IQ scores, Mafia. On that we most definitely agree.

I think it's simplistic to say that racial disparity in opportunities can be reduced to socioeconomic differences. There is an added historical/cultural oppression that goes beyond socioeconomic disadvantage.

Well I will concede the point that I may have overcharacterized the importance of SES in determining IQ. I will continue, however, to assert that IQ is not a good measure of actual native intelligence, and that other social and economic factors play a large role in generating the patterns we see in data based on IQ. And for the record Draug, because IQ is measured in terms of percentile, your wife's score of 96 may be below average, but it is still well within the so called "normal" range.

Considering that IQ testing can be done as early as 5, I would suggest that the best evaluation of IQ is at that age, before a failing educational system can mar the individual's ability to learn. Of course, that still won't take into account what indifferent parenting and potentially poor dietary/physical care can do to damage the brain's development, but it would mitigate the damage potentially done by the education system.

Does anyone know if any tests have been done at this level across socio-economic ranges?

I would imagine not. Also, you're only talking about America there. There is also data for most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada available as well, and they don't all have the US's education woes.

@Mafia - I agree about my wife's IQ and said as much (review my response to Putin). My point was hers wasn't high despite going to a top private school (St. Ursula Academy) versus my public education. She is an average individual and her eyes glze over with boredom when I get my geek on over some cool toy I just added to the home network.

But these countries/continents also don't have the socioeconomic disparity found in the US, do they?

Some of them do. Canada is close as far as I know.

I didn't know there was such a disparity in Canada. I guess that would explain he who will remain nameless.

I think the populations that are poorer in Canada are smaller. ie. there are fewer African-Canadians than African-Americans. But the income disparity between these groups and the majority is similar.

(OK reading that paragraph over, I realize it's not very good. Obviously there are fewer black people in Canada, it's 1/10th the size of the US, I meant proportionally. Just thought I'd make that clear.)

Of those listed, Japan is the closest to the US (Japan is rapidly approaching US levels). Most of Europe and Austria/NZe are far lower, in the low 30 range on the Gini coefficient. The US and Mexico are about the same, mid-40s.

Canada is not close, at least according to 2005 data.

http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/distribution_of_family_income_gini_index_2010_0.html

Anybody who married Fag-Naur would HAVE to be a moron. So, the I.Q. disparity rings true.

But if Fag-Naur measures 150-ish, then I'm Stephen Hawking......

Hey, good to know. Thanks Putin. I was underestimating Canada. Haha! We win.
Sorry.