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The biological hypothesis in cliometrics of growth: a methodological critique of Fogel (post 1982) and Ashraf & Galor (2013)

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  • Pierre Leviaux

    (Université Lumière Lyon 2)

  • Antoine Parent

    (IEP de Lyon)

Abstract

The resort to biological “analogies”, “metaphors” and “concepts” is an important aspect of the history of the relationships between economics and biology and has long been greatly controversial. This controversy continues today in the most recent work of three cliometricians, i.e. Fogel (post 1982) and Ashraf and Galor (2013). We focus on the theories of historical growth relying on biological explanations which have been formulated by these economists, from the specific angle of biological reductionism. We propose a methodological critique of their use of biological variables as determinants of the historical dynamics of economic growth. Based upon the transposition to the field of economics of Ernst Mayr’s distinction between functional and evolutionary biology and his definitions of reductionism, we argue that despite some similarities, the questions raised by Fogel’s and Ashraf & Galor’s theories are of distinct nature. Nonetheless, we stress the need for a careful examination of the biological mechanisms supporting these researches.

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  • Pierre Leviaux & Antoine Parent, 2018. "The biological hypothesis in cliometrics of growth: a methodological critique of Fogel (post 1982) and Ashraf & Galor (2013)," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 929-950, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:28:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s00191-018-0560-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-018-0560-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Steven N. Durlauf, 2023. "The Journey of Humanity by Oded Galor: A Review Essay," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 49(2), pages 403-421, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R.W. Fogel; Q. Ashraf & O. Galor; Methodology of economic history; Biological reductionism; Economic growth in the long-run; Economics and biology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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