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Encephalization and division of labor by early humans

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  • John Hartwick

Abstract

We draw on Ricardian comparative advantage between distinct persons to map out the division of labor among proto-humans in a village some 1.7 million years ago. A person specialized in maintaining a cooking fire in the village is of particular interest (Ofek [2001]). We are also interested in modelling hunting by village males in teams. The large issue is whether and how specialization (division of labor) and interpersonal trade might have driven brain-expansion in early humans.
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  • John Hartwick, 2010. "Encephalization and division of labor by early humans," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 77-100, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:12:y:2010:i:2:p:77-100
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-010-9086-5
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    Cited by:

    1. John Hartwick, 2009. "Son To Father Reciprocity And Encephalization In Early Humans," Working Paper 1223, Economics Department, Queen's University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Early humans; Division of labor; Brain expansion; Z130; O100;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • D51 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Exchange and Production Economies
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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