Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/21127 
Year of Publication: 
2002
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 621
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper studies how an institution such as markets affects the evolution of mankind. My key point is that the forces of natural selection are made weaker because trade allows people to specialize in those activities where they are strong, and to offset their weaknesses by purchasing adequate goods on the market. Absent trade, people must allocate their time among all the activities necessary for their fitness. A fitness advantage in any given dimension will increase survival probability, so that in the long run natural selection makes sure that population is entirely made of individuals with the best alleles at all locations. Under trade, there exist long-run equilibria where less fit individuals are able to achieve the same survival potential as the fittest, by specializing in activities where they are not at a disadvantage, and purchasing goods that are substitute for activities for which they are 'weak'.
Subjects: 
evolution
genotype
division of labor
specialization
gene-culture coevolution
natural selection
trade
exchange
markets
time allocation
JEL: 
J21
J1
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
629.46 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.