The Biogeographic Origins of Novelty-Seeking Traits

Erkan Gören

No V-366-14, Working Papers from University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper empirically investigates the biogeographic determinants of the human DRD4 exon III locus, a particular gene variant associated with the human personality trait of novelty-seeking behavior. Providing a novel compilation of worldwide DRD4 exon III allele frequencies in a large sample of indigenous populations around the world, this study employs population-specific biogeographic characteristics using hig h-resolution geospatial data. The estimates suggest that migratory distance from East Africa naturally selects for specific novelty-seeking traits, even controlling for a broad range of biogeographic determinants. Notably, land suitability for pastoral nomadism is significantly related to DRD4 exon III diversity. This result provides further credence to the general observation that novelty-seeking traits are quite common in nomadic populations, explaining why some societies failed to settle and to develop centralized states.

Keywords: Novelty-Seeking Behavior; Entrepreneurial Traits; Biogeography; Out of Africa Hypothesis; Gene-Culture Co-Evolution; Natural Selection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N50 O10 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35 pages
Date: 2014-05, Revised 2014-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo and nep-gro
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Published in Oldenburg Working Papers V-366-14

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:old:dpaper:366

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