The Problem of Fairness
Traditionally, social scientists have been quite hesitant to acknowledge a role for genes in explaining economic behavior. But a study by David Cesarini, a Ph.D. student in MIT's Department of Economics, and by colleagues in Sweden indicates that there is a genetic component to people's perception of what is fair and what is unfair.

Former CEA chair Greg Mankiw pulls together some recent interesting articles on studies linking genetics and a sense of "fairness".  I'm not much taken with the occasional newspaper fad of genetic determinism (usu. yet another manifestation of lazy journalism), but this is a rather interesting series of studies.  "Fairness" is essentially non-rational, non-logical.  It's easy for the social sciences to ignore it--necessary, even, at times--and this frustrating problem is often pushed to the sides.  In fall of 2002, after listening to Richard Perle explain for hours why there wouldn't be an Iraqi or even a regional popular backlash against a benevolent occupation, I still remember CRN turning to me: "The problem is that fairness is a real thing.  People fight over what's fair; they kill over it." 

Indeed.