EH.Net Abstracts in Economic History

                ABSTRACTS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY
                     (c) 2007 EH.Net
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Name: Jacob L. Weisdorf
Email: jacob.weisdorf at econ.ku.dk
Institution: University of Copenhagen and Paris School of Economics

Co-author: none

Title: Made for Toil: Natural Selection at the Dawn of Agriculture

Internet Address of abstracted work: 
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1037461

By mail:
Department of Economics
University of Copenhagen
Studiestraede 6
DK-1455 Copenhagen

Language: English

Abstract:
The labour input among pre-historic foragers was normally rewarded 
within the same day of the effort. For the first farmers, by 
contrast, labour input and its rewards could be far apart. However, 
the patience was worthwhile: population growth rates among early 
agriculturalists were up to 60 times higher than those of their 
foraging counterparts. It is well-known from the biological science 
that humans differ with respect to metabolism. This study argues that 
rates of metabolism well-suited for the many hours of labour input 
required for farming gained an evolutionary advantage with the advent 
of agriculture. This theory helps shed light on the puzzles why 
farming was adopted despite its high labour costs, and why people of 
agricultural societies work more than their foraging counterparts.

Bibliography: Weisdorf, Jacob Louis, "Made for Toil: Natural 
Selection at the Dawn of Agriculture," Paris School of Economics 
Working Paper No. 2007-33.

Subject: A, J
Geographical Area: 0
Country/Region: Ancient World
Time Period: 1

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