Cereals, Appropriability and Hierarchy

Joram Mayshar, Omer Moav, Zvika Neeman and Luigi Pascali
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Zvika Neeman: Eitan Berglas School of Economics, Tel-Aviv University,

The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics

Abstract: We propose that the development of social hierarchy following the Neolithic Revolution was due to the ability of the emergent elite to appropriate crops from farmers, rather than a result of increased productivity, as usually maintained. Since cereals are easier to appropriate than roots and tubers, we argue that regional variations in the suitability of land for the cultivation of these different crop types can account for differences in the formation of hierarchies and states. Our empirical investigation supports a causal effect of the cultivation of cereals on hierarchy, and the lack of a similar effect of land productivity.

Keywords: Geography; Hierarchy; Institutions; State Capacity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D02 D82 H10 O43 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Cereals, Appropriability and Hierarchy (2016)
Working Paper: Cereals, Appropriability and Hierarchy (2015)
Working Paper: Cereals Appropriability and Hierarchy (2015)
Working Paper: Cereals, Appropriability and Hierarchy (2015)
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