“Top down uniform US education has resulted in inhibiting the above resulting in apparently 20 IQ points less according to a headline here yesterday.”
Intelligence quotient can be determined with a fairly high degree of reliability at a young age, before formal education has much effect.. Genetics, gestational environment, early nutrition, health status, early intervention by parents are determinants..
Skills, OTH, are acquired through education.
It is generational.
The totalitarian nations have diminished intelligence after generations of conformity.
Innovation which is applied intelligence comes from imagination, creativity, curiosity plus wealth to explore.