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Agricultural Transition And The Adoption Of Primitive Technology

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  • James B. Ang

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="ecin12210-abs-0001"> This paper tests Jared Diamond's influential theory that an earlier transition from a hunter-gatherer society to agricultural production induces higher levels of technology adoption. Using a proxy for the geographic diffusion barriers of Neolithic technology and an index of biogeographic endowments to isolate the exogenous component of the timing of agricultural transition, the findings indicate that countries that experienced earlier transitions to agriculture were subsequently more capable of adopting new technologies in 1000 BC, 1 AD, and 1500 AD. These results lend strong support to Diamond's hypothesis . ( JEL O30, O40)

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  • James B. Ang, 2015. "Agricultural Transition And The Adoption Of Primitive Technology," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 53(4), pages 1818-1838, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:53:y:2015:i:4:p:1818-1838
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    Cited by:

    1. Chu, Angus C. & Xu, Rongxin, 2024. "From Neolithic Revolution to industrialization," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28(3), pages 699-717, April.
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    3. Per G. Fredriksson & Jim R. Wollscheid, 2018. "Legal origins and environmental policies: evidence from OECD and developing countries," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 369-375, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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