EU-DIGEST

There is evidence for differential stability in personality trait differences, even over decades. The authors used data from a sample of the Scottish Mental Survey, 1947 to study personality stability from childhood to older age. The 6-Day Sample (N = 1,208) were rated on six personality characteristics by their teachers at around age 14. In 2012, the authors traced as many of these participants as possible and invited them to take part in a follow-up study.

Those who agreed (N = 174) completed a questionnaire booklet at age 77 years, which included rating themselves and asking someone who knew them well to rate them on the same 6 characteristics on which they were rated in adolescence.

Each set of 6 ratings was reduced to the same single underlying factor, denoted dependability, a trait comparable to conscientiousness. Participants’ and others’ older-age personality characteristic ratings were moderately correlated with each other, and with other measures of personality and wellbeing, but correlations suggested no significant stability of any of the 6 characteristics or their underlying factor, dependability, over the 63-year interval.

However, a more complex model, controlling rater effects, indicated significant 63-year stability of 1 personality characteristic, Stability of Moods, and near-significant stability of another, Conscientiousness.

Results suggest that lifelong differential stability of personality is generally quite low, but that some aspects of personality in older age may relate to personality in childhood.

For the complete report go to: Personality Stability From Age 14 to Age 77 Years

For some observers of the eurozone crisis, it is fashionable to make the argument that Spain’s recovery is not real and just rests on clay feet. In contrast, these same voices argue that France, which has so far steadily resisted reforms for the most part, does not have much to worry about.

While it is usually left unsaid, the great hope, under this approach to understanding the European economy, is that continued monetary action from the ECB will “bail out” Europe’s second-largest economy – and keep it from the need to undertake labor market reforms and other structural measures.

But what does the actual economic evidence show?

Bottom line: If Paris does not go beyond its recent mini reforms, it will soon fall behind Spain and most other euro members.

Read more: The Eurozone After Greece: Spain Vs. France - The Globalist