Journal article
Intergenerational Wealth Transmission and the Dynamics of Inequality in Small-Scale Societies
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.326(5953), pp.682-688
10/30/2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103969
PMCID: PMC2792081
PMID: 19900925
Abstract
Small-scale human societies range from foraging bands with a strong egalitarian ethos to more economically stratified agrarian and pastoral societies. We explain this variation in inequality using a dynamic model in which a population’s long-run steady-state level of inequality depends on the extent to which its most important forms of wealth are transmitted within families across generations. We estimate the degree of intergenerational transmission of three different types of wealth (material, embodied, and relational) as well as the extent of wealth inequality in 21 historical and contemporary populations. We show that intergenerational transmission of wealth and wealth inequality are substantial among pastoral and small-scale agricultural societies (on a par with or even exceeding the most unequal modern industrial economies) and quite limited among horticultural and foraging peoples (equivalent to the most egalitarian of modern industrial populations). Differences in the technology by which a people derive their livelihood and in the institutions and norms making up the economic system jointly contribute to this pattern.
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Details
- Title
- Intergenerational Wealth Transmission and the Dynamics of Inequality in Small-Scale Societies
- Creators
- Monique Borgerhoff Mulder - Anthropology and Center for Population Biology, University of California, DavisSamuel Bowles - Santa Fe Institute and University of SienaTom Hertz - International University College of TurinAdrian Bell - Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, DavisJan Beise - Statistics Division, United NationsGreg Clark - Economics, University of California, DavisIla Fazzio - Anthropology, University College, LondonMichael Gurven - Anthropology, University of California, Santa BarbaraKim Hill - Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State UniversityPaul L Hooper - Anthropology, University of New MexicoWilliam Irons - Anthropology, Northwestern UniversityHillard Kaplan - Anthropology, University of New MexicoDonna Leonetti - Anthropology, University of WashingtonBobbi Low - School of Natural Resources, University of MichiganFrank Marlowe - Anthropology, Florida State UniversityRichard McElreath - Anthropology and Center for Population Biology, University of California, DavisSuresh Naidu - Academy for International Studies, Harvard UniversityDavid Nolin - Carolina Population Center, University of North CarolinaPatrizio Piraino - Statistics Canada, OttawaRob Quinlan - Anthropology, Washington State UniversityEric Schniter - Anthropology, University of California, Santa BarbaraRebecca Sear - Social Policy, London School of EconomicsMary Shenk - Anthropology, University of MissouriEric Alden Smith - Anthropology, University of WashingtonChristopher von Rueden - Anthropology, University of California, Santa BarbaraPolly Wiessner - Anthropology, University of Utah
- Publication Details
- Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.326(5953), pp.682-688
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Identifiers
- 99900546724501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article