On the Early Holocene

Foraging to Early Agriculture

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9714655
AutoresNicolas Marceau (Université du Québec à Montréal), Gordon M Myers (0000-0002-5441-2743, Simon Fraser University), Gordon Myers (0000-0002-9810-0506, Simon Fraser University)
Ano2006
Volume116
Fascículo513
Páginas751-772
Data de publicação2006-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0013-0133 • E-ISSN: 1468-0297
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-0297.2006.01110.x
OpenAlexW3121792878
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas36

We consider a world in which the mode of food production, foraging or agriculture, is endogenous, and in which technology grows exogenously. Within a model of coalition formation, we allow individuals to form co-operative communities (bands) of foragers or farmers rationally. At the lowest levels of technology, equilibrium entails the grand coalition of foragers, a co-operative structure which avoids over-exploitation of the environment. But at a critical state of technology, the co-operative structure breaks down through an individually rational splintering of the band. At this stage, there can be an increase in work and through the over-exploitation of the environment, a food crisis. In the end, technological growth may lead to a one-way transition from foraging to agriculture. Copyright 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation Royal Economic Society 2006

Agriculture · Biology · Economic system · Economics · Foraging · Natural resource economics · Work (physics · Ecology · Economic theories and models · Economic Theory and Institutions · Engineering · Game Theory and Applications