Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP3654 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details

Title: On Market Forces and Human Evolution

Author(s): Gilles Saint-Paul

Publication Date: November 2002

Keyword(s): division of labour, evolution, exchange, geneculture coevolution, genotype, markets, natural selection, specialization, time allocation and trade

Programme Area(s): Labour Economics

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 in which they are 'weak'.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=3654

Bibliographic Reference

Saint-Paul, G. 2002. 'On Market Forces and Human Evolution'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=3654