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The journey of humanity: Roots of inequality in the wealth of nations

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  • Galor Oded

    (Department of Economics, Brown University, Providence RI 02912, USA)

Abstract

This essay explores the journey of humanity since the emergence of Homo sapiens 300,000 years ago. It analyses the critical role of Unified Growth Theory in resolving two fundamental mysteries that had characterized this journey: (i) The mystery of growth—why did living standards stagnate for most of human history and what led to their sudden soar 200 years ago? (ii) the mystery of inequality—what are the roots of the major surge in inequality across nations and why have these gaps widened dramatically over the past 200 years?

Suggested Citation

  • Galor Oded, 2020. "The journey of humanity: Roots of inequality in the wealth of nations," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 6(2), pages 7-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:ecobur:v:6:y:2020:i:2:p:7-18:n:2
    DOI: 10.18559/ebr.2020.2.2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cemal Eren Arbatlı & Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor & Marc Klemp, 2020. "Diversity and Conflict," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 88(2), pages 727-797, March.
    2. Oded Galor & Omer Moav, 2002. "Natural Selection and the Origin of Economic Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(4), pages 1133-1191.
    3. Quamrul Ashraf & Oded Galor, 2011. "Dynamics and Stagnation in the Malthusian Epoch," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(5), pages 2003-2041, August.
    4. Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor, 2018. "The Macrogenoeconomics of Comparative Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 56(3), pages 1119-1155, September.
    5. Quamrul Ashraf & Oded Galor, 2013. "The 'Out of Africa' Hypothesis, Human Genetic Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(1), pages 1-46, February.
    6. Oded Galor & Ömer Özak, 2016. "The Agricultural Origins of Time Preference," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(10), pages 3064-3103, October.
    7. Quamrul Ashraf & Oded Galor, 2008. "Human Genetic Diversity and Comparative Economic Development," 2008 Meeting Papers 617, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    8. Cemal Eren Arbatli & Quamrul H. Ashraf & Oded Galor, 2015. "The Nature of Conflict," CESifo Working Paper Series 5486, CESifo.
    9. Oded Galor, 2011. "Unified Growth Theory," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 9477.
    10. David N. Weil & Oded Galor, 2000. "Population, Technology, and Growth: From Malthusian Stagnation to the Demographic Transition and Beyond," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(4), pages 806-828, September.
    11. Oded Galor & Andrew Mountford, 2008. "Trading Population for Productivity: Theory and Evidence," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 75(4), pages 1143-1179.
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    Cited by:

    1. Słodowa-Hełpa Małgorzata, 2020. "Economic Policy from the Perspective of Contemporary Challenges in Economic History – Hopes, Concerns and Dilemmas," Studia Historiae Oeconomicae, Sciendo, vol. 38(1), pages 4-36, December.
    2. Angus C. Chu, 2023. "Natural selection and Neanderthal extinction in a Malthusian economy," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1641-1656, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    growth; comparative development; great divergence; Malthusian Epoch; population diversity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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