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Do institutions evolve like material technologies?

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Molho

    (VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam [Amsterdam])

  • Jorge Peña

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Manvir Singh

    (UC - University of California)

  • Maxime Derex

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

Norms and institutions enable large-scale human cooperation by creating shared expectations and changing individuals' incentives via monitoring or sanctioning. Like material technologies, these social technologies satisfy instrumental ends and solve difficult problems. However, the similarities and differences between the evolution of material technologies and the evolution of social technologies remain unresolved. Here, we review evidence suggesting that, compared to the evolution of material technologies, institutional and normative evolution exhibits constraints in the production of variation and the selection of useful variants. These constraints stem from the frequency-dependent nature of social technologies and limit the pace and scope of normative and institutional evolution. We conclude by reviewing research on the social transmission of institutions and norms and highlighting an experimental paradigm to study their cultural evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Molho & Jorge Peña & Manvir Singh & Maxime Derex, 2024. "Do institutions evolve like material technologies?," Working Papers hal-04600184, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04600184
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04600184
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    References listed on IDEAS

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