Mutual Biological Social Evolution, Genetic Diversity And Social Change: The Case Of Alcohol And European Colonization

Andrey Shcherbak ()
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Andrey Shcherbak: National Research University Higher School of Economics

HSE Working papers from National Research University Higher School of Economics

Abstract: The research project aims to find link between genetic diversity and social change. Although some studies associate certain genes with prosocial behavior, it is hardly to say that any genetic polymorphisms are responsible for social change. We assume that some existing differences in particular genotypes could be explained by extent of ancient urbanization, change in population density and historic pathogen prevalence. The pathogen load might have led to some genetic mutations that in their turn might have caused difference in some allele frequency among regions and populations. Our case study is the use of strong alcohol as factor of European colonization in America, Africa and Eurasia. Historically, alcohol was one of the major trade items between Europeans and indigenous populations. I argue that there is a positive correlation between probability of being colonized by Europeans and particular allele frequency responsible for metabolism of alcohol. The risk of colonization by European powers is higher for indigenous populations which had genotype with lower allele frequencies which could ’protect’ them against alcohol abuse. I test this hypothesis using binary logistic regression. The dependent variable is the binomial variable which is coded colonization1900 of a given native population by Europeans from the 1500s to 1900. The unit of analysis is not a state, but a population. Independent variable is allele frequencies of Arg48His polymorphism among 56 populations from Africa, Asia and America. The suggested causal mechanism is uneven trade: the exchange of alcohol for local goods was unfavorable for indigenous populations. Economic dependence was followed by colonization.

Keywords: genetic diversity; colonization; alcohol; urbanization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 24 pages
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo and nep-gro
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Published in WP BRP Series: Sociology / SOC, July 2014, pages 1-24

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hig:wpaper:45/soc/2014

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