In search for a country-level g-factor, aggregated data were used by Rindermann. This, however, can cause some problems, well-known in the literature on multi-level modelling. Conceptual clarity of the country-level g-Jactor is lacking, the 'blown up' coefficients are well-known in studies on using aggregated data, and are not that remarkable, and the quest for causes and effects of the country-level g-Jactor is only meaningful if we understand what this factor stands for and if we are able to analyse data in which the multi-level structure is preserved. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.