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on Evolutionary Economics |
| By: | Cao, Yiming (Boston University); Enke, Benjamin (University of Bonn); Falk, Armin (briq, University of Bonn); Giuliano, Paola (University of California, Los Angeles); Nunn, Nathan (Harvard University) |
| Abstract: | According to the widely known 'culture of honor' hypothesis from social psychology, traditional herding practices are believed to have generated a value system that is conducive to revenge-taking and violence. We test this idea at a global scale using a combination of ethnographic records, historical folklore information, global data on contemporary conflict events, and large-scale surveys. The data show systematic links between traditional herding practices and a culture of honor. First, the culture of pre-industrial societies that relied on animal herding emphasizes violence, punishment, and revenge-taking. Second, contemporary ethnolinguistic groups that historically subsisted more strongly on herding have more frequent and severe conflict today. Third, the contemporary descendants of herders report being more willing to take revenge and punish unfair behavior in the globally representative Global Preferences Survey. In all, the evidence supports the idea that this form of economic subsistence generated a functional psychology that has persisted until today and plays a role in shaping conflict across the globe. |
| Keywords: | culture of honor, conflict, punishment, revenge |
| JEL: | N0 Z1 |
| Date: | 2021–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14738&r= |
| By: | Nicola Amendola (CEIS & DEF, University of Rome "Tor Vergata"); Giacomo Gabbuti (St.Antony’s College, University of Oxford); Giovanni Vecchi (CEIS & DEF, University of Rome "Tor Vergata") |
| Abstract: | We argue against the use of composite indices, such as the Human Development Index (HDI), in economic history. We show that the HDI can be interpreted as a formal representation of the analyst’s ethical system. We support our claim by introducing a new class of paternalistic social welfare functions (Graaff 1957, Mas-Colell, 1995) which encompasses all the HDI formulas put forth by the literature. The theoretical framework is illustrated by an empirical investigation of the long-run evolution of Italians’ living standards and civic liberties. We conclude that any history based on composite indices is one where both data and history play a minor role, if any. |
| Keywords: | Human development index,Economic wellbeing,Composite indices,Living standards,CES,Social welfare functions,Italy |
| JEL: | N01 N3 O15 |
| Date: | 2021–11–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rtv:ceisrp:527&r= |
| By: | Cozzi, Guido |
| Abstract: | Is growth ultimately fully endogenous or semi-endogenous? A quarter-century of theoretical and empirical growth economics has still kept both possibilities open. Consequently, I assume that R&D-driven growth is a general combination of both semi-endogenous and fully endogenous mechanisms. I here prove that if the semi-endogenous growth component is essential to the actual growth mechanism, the long-run growth rate will follow the semi-endogenous growth predictions. On the other hand, if the semi-endogenous is not essential, the fully endogenous growth mechanism may dictate the long run if the world population does not grow too fast. This result holds regardless of whether fully endogenous growth is essential. I also prove that if no other (third) growth mechanism exists, it suffices to prove that less research always leads to fewer innovations to ascertain semi-endogenous growth essentiality. |
| Keywords: | Strong scale effect; Semi-endogenous growth; Fully endogenous growth. |
| JEL: | O1 O3 O4 |
| Date: | 2021–11–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:110681&r= |
| By: | Rapoport, Hillel (Paris School of Economics); Sardoschau, Sulin (Humboldt University Berlin); Silve, Arthur (Université Laval) |
| Abstract: | We propose a novel perspective on migration and cultural change by asking both theoretically and empirically – and from a global viewpoint – whether migration is a source of cultural convergence or divergence between home and host countries. Our theoretical model derives distinctive testable predictions as to the sign and direction ofconvergence for various compositional and cultural diffusion mechanisms. We use the World Value Survey for 1981-2014 to build time-varying measures of cultural similarity for a large number of country pairs and exploit within country-pair variation over time. Our results support migration-based cultural convergence, with cultural remittances as its main driver. In other words and in contrast to the populist narrative, we find that while immigrants do act as vectors of cultural diffusion, this is mostly to export the host country culture back home. |
| Keywords: | migration, cultural change, globalization |
| JEL: | F22 O15 Z10 |
| Date: | 2021–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14772&r= |
| By: | Gaia Narciso (Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin); Battista Severgnini (Copenhagen Business School); Gayane Vardanyan (Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin) |
| Abstract: | What is the long-run impact of large negative historical events on the individual decision to migrate? We investigate this research question by looking at the effect of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1850) on the long-run individual decision to migrate to the US during the Age of the Mass Migration. We construct a unique dataset based on two early 20th century Irish Censuses and the Ellis Island Administrative Records. This allows us to test whether the Great Irish Famine, one of the most lethal episodes of mass starvation in history, had a long-run impact on individuals’ migration decisions. Controlling for individual and geographical characteristics, we find that the Irish Famine was a significant long-run driver of individuals’ migration choices. |
| Keywords: | mass migration, negative shock, long-run impact, Great Famine. |
| JEL: | F22 N33 N93 |
| Date: | 2020–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcd:tcduee:tep0220&r= |