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A comparison of wealth inequality in humans and non-humans

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  • Ivan D Chase

    (SBU - Stony Brook University [SUNY] - SUNY - State University of New York)

  • Raphaël Douady

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SBU - Stony Brook University [SUNY] - SUNY - State University of New York)

  • Dianna K Padilla

    (SBU - Stony Brook University [SUNY] - SUNY - State University of New York)

Abstract

HIGHLIGHTS • We present the first description of "wealth" inequality in a non-human animal • We describe the distribution of snail shells occupied by a hermit crab species • The distribution of shells resembles the common form of human wealth distributions • Hermit crabs may provide an animal model of the dynamics generating wealth inequality • Shell distribution in hermit crabs provides a baseline to compare to human inequality

Suggested Citation

  • Ivan D Chase & Raphaël Douady & Dianna K Padilla, 2020. "A comparison of wealth inequality in humans and non-humans," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-03018472, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:cesptp:hal-03018472
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2019.122962
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://paris1.hal.science/hal-03018472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Drăgulescu, Adrian & Yakovenko, Victor M., 2001. "Exponential and power-law probability distributions of wealth and income in the United Kingdom and the United States," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 299(1), pages 213-221.
    2. William G. Gale & John Karl Scholz, 1994. "Intergenerational Transfers and the Accumulation of Wealth," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(4), pages 145-160, Fall.
    3. Cagetti, Marco & De Nardi, Mariacristina, 2008. "Wealth Inequality: Data And Models," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(S2), pages 285-313, September.
    4. James B. Davies & Susanna Sandström & Anthony Shorrocks & Edward N. Wolff, 2011. "The Level and Distribution of Global Household Wealth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(551), pages 223-254, March.
    5. Kotlikoff, Laurence J & Summers, Lawrence H, 1981. "The Role of Intergenerational Transfers in Aggregate Capital Accumulation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 89(4), pages 706-732, August.
    6. Ivan D Chase & W Brent Lindquist, 2016. "The Fragility of Individual-Based Explanations of Social Hierarchies: A Test Using Animal Pecking Orders," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Becker, Gary S & Tomes, Nigel, 1979. "An Equilibrium Theory of the Distribution of Income and Intergenerational Mobility," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 87(6), pages 1153-1189, December.
    8. Jacob Mincer, 1958. "Investment in Human Capital and Personal Income Distribution," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 66(4), pages 281-281.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cui, Lijie & Lin, Chuandong, 2021. "A simple and efficient kinetic model for wealth distribution with saving propensity effect: Based on lattice gas automaton," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 561(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Wealth distribution; Power-law (Pareto) distributions; Fat tailsVacancy chains; Hermit crabs; Human–animal comparisons;
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