MOSCOW — Curious as to how rich you’ll be? Your hands could hold the answer. A study out of Russia reveals a potential correlation between a person’s wealth and the length of their fingers.
The study, conducted at the Higher School of Economics, finds that an adult’s 2D:4D ratio (also known as the digit ratio), or the ratio of their ring finger to their index finger, was linked to their income. “2D” refers to the second digit, or index finger, and “4D” refers to the ring finger.
The ratio has been found to be an indicator of a person’s exposure to testosterone during development in the womb.
How could your fingers tie in to your wealth?
Researchers looked at data from nearly 700 men and 900 women, ages 25 to 60, participating in the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey. The survey, conducted annually by the school, monitors “the effects of Russian reforms on the health and economic welfare of households and individuals in the Russian Federation.” Each participant’s 2D:4D ratio was measured and they were polled on their income and financial status.
“The results of the regression analysis showed a negative correlation between the income and 2D:4D ratios of women. In other words, the higher the salary, the lower the ratio,” according to a school release. The results were not affected by other factors such as education level, job, or age.
“What is interesting is that this quantitative association is seen in men as well, though only after taking into account respondents’ level of education,” the release adds, noting that the authors plan to study a potential link between the ratio and one’s academic success and education level.
The study is the first to make the distinct connection, though past research has shown a link between the ratio and a slew characteristics from athletic ability to performance on exams in school to aggression to penis size. Men are more likely to have index fingers shorter than their ring fingers, while women are more likely to have index fingers the same size or longer than their ring fingers, according to Time.
This latest research was published in the journal Economics and Human Biology.
poorly written article. does not explain the issue well. No simplified bottom line such as: “people with a shorter index finger make more money”