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Can Marshall plus Malthus Explain the Evolution of Ancient Societies? A Review of Economic Prehistory by Dow and Reed

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  • Samuel Bowles
  • Amy Bogaard

Abstract

In a work of extraordinary scope and scholarship, Gregory K. Dow and Clyde G. Reed deploy conventional microeconomic theory to explain "six transitions that shaped the world," namely, the transitions to sedentism, farming, inequality, war, cities, and states. The models they offer provide a level of clarity about potential causal mechanisms that is unusual in the archaeological literature. But we are not convinced by some of their key empirical claims in light of current archaeological evidence, and we think that contemporary economics—including evolutionary game theory—has more appropriate models to offer than the Marshallian approach taken by the authors.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Bowles & Amy Bogaard, 2024. "Can Marshall plus Malthus Explain the Evolution of Ancient Societies? A Review of Economic Prehistory by Dow and Reed," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(3), pages 1213-1229, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:62:y:2024:i:3:p:1213-29
    DOI: 10.1257/jel.20221713
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N50 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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