The Biological Basis of Economic Behavior

Arthur John Robson ()

Journal of Economic Literature, 2001, vol. 39, issue 1, pages 11-33

Abstract: This paper first considers the implications of biological evolution for economic preferences. It analyzes why utility functions evolved, considers evidence that utility is both hedonic and adaptive, and suggests why such adaptation might have evolved. Time preference and attitudes to risk are treated--in particular, whether the former is exponential and the latter are selfish. Arguments for another form of interdependence--a concern with status--are treated. The paper then considers the evolution of rationality. One hypothesis examined is that human intelligence and longevity were forged by hunter-gatherer economies; another is that intelligence was spurred by competitive social interactions.

JEL-codes: B52 D00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.39.1.11
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations View citations in EconPapers (52) Track citations by RSS feed

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/jel.39.1.11 (application/pdf)
Access to full text is restricted to AEA members and institutional subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:39:y:2001:i:1:p:11-33

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.aeaweb.org/subscribe.html

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Economic Literature is edited by Janet Currie

More articles in Journal of Economic Literature from American Economic Association
Contact information at EDIRC.
Series data maintained by Jane Voros ().