[JohnnyZ]

Romanian orphanages?

Do we really think this is sound methodology?

[fhayek]

If this goes back to the early 90’s, then orphanages in Romania (as all institutions in that country) would be severely influenced by the communist regimes that were in charge for half a century. Surely communism could also be implicated in stunting mental growth, couldn’t it?

[ex-snook]

Romanian orphanages?

Do we really think this is sound methodology?

---

Great point. But perhaps the only game in town because we pretty much have stopped using orphanages. Foster care is an option in this country now but not so in the 1930’s era. I write with first-hand knowledge, orphanages were great.

[GovernmentShrinker]

There’s also no mention of how children were selected for foster care vs remaining in an orphanage, and how “returns” from foster care were handled. I’d suspect that the tots who seemed brighter to begin with were more likely to get into foster care and stay there.

[rbg81]

My thought exactly. Romainian orphanages are definitely skewed to the extreme side of the spectrum.