Research Seminar on Diversity and Development Luigi Pascali "Cereals, Appropriability and Hierarchy"
HSE International Center for the Study of Institutions and Development (ICSID) and NES Center for the Study of Diversity and Social Interactions are pleased to announce their next joint Research Seminar on Diversity and Development.The event will be held jointly with the seminar “Political Economy”.
Luigi Pascali, Associate Professor at the Pompeu Fabra University (Barсelona, Spain), will present his paper "Cereals, Appropriability and Hierarchy" .
The seminar will take place in the HSE building at 26-4 Shabolovka str., room 3211, at 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.
Working language of the seminar is English.
We would like to ask everyone who requires an HSE pass to send an e-mail to Oksana Antsiferova oantsiferova(at)hse.ru (stating your name, surname, your affiliation and contact e-mail address) until 5 p.m., October 23.
Abstract: Conventional theory holds that hierarchies and states emerged following the Neolithic transition to agriculture as a result of increased land productivity, and that differences in land productivity explain differences in hierarchies between regions. We challenge this theory and propose that social hierarchy emerged where the elite were able to appropriate crops from farmers. In particular, we argue that cereals are easier to appropriate than most other foodstuffs. Therefore, regional variations in the suitability of land for the cultivation of different crop types can account for differences in the formation of hierarchies and states. Our empirical investigation supports such a causal effect of the cultivation of cereals on hierarchy, without finding a similar effect for land productivity.
We look forward to seeing you!
tel: +7 (495) 772 95 90*22029
Kind regards,
ICSID and NES CSDSI Team