TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Saint-Paul, Gilles
        TI  - On Market Forces and Human Evolution
        PY  - 2002/Nov/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 621
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp621
        AB  - This paper studies how an institution such as markets affects the evolution of mankind. My
key point is that the forces of natural selection are made weaker because trade allows people
to specialize in those activities where they are strong, and to offset their weaknesses by
purchasing adequate goods on the market. Absent trade, people must allocate their time
among all the activities necessary for their fitness. A fitness advantage in any given
dimension will increase survival probability, so that in the long run natural selection makes
sure that population is entirely made of individuals with the best alleles at all locations. Under
trade, there exist long-run equilibria where less fit individuals are able to achieve the same
survival potential as the fittest, by specializing in activities where they are not at a
disadvantage, and purchasing goods that are substitute for activities for which they are
'weak'.
        KW  - exchange
KW  - trade
KW  - natural selection
KW  - gene-culture coevolution
KW  - specialization
KW  - division of labor
KW  - genotype
KW  - evolution
KW  - markets
KW  - time allocation
        ER  -