Smarter Babies: Increаsing the Population's Absolute Number of High-IQ Individuals

In Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 25 (2), Doctor O.M. Moen of the University of Oslo suggests that monetary rewards be given to women who reproduce sexually via artificial insemination of sperm from men who have an intelligence quotient (IQ) of ≥ 125 points. In this way, Moen wishes to increase the population’s overall intelligence as measured by IQ. Focussing on availability of human resources, I’ve investigated whether Moen’s idea may be realised in Russia. I find that a limited realisation is possible if based in Moscow. Whilst Russian women overall reject the idea, a contrary interest exists among bisexual and certain heterosexual women who are from 33 years old and who either are unmarried and childless or separated and childless or having up to one child. 1,450 births per year is realistic. Willing women, however, expect sizable economic rewards. In addition, in the context of cognito-neurologic enhancement, there’s broad public support for offering iodine supplements in the form of subsidised, iodine-rich foods to pregnant women. Keywords: brightism, eugenics, iodine supplements, intelligence, mentality, Moscow, Russia, Smarter Babies, sterilisation.