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Sexual dimorphism and sexual selection: A unified economic analysis

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  • Cyrus Chu, C.Y.
  • Lee, Ronald D.

Abstract

We develop a life history model with two sexes, and study the optimal energy allocation strategy of males and females. We join Darwin and others in suggesting that the origin of sexual dimorphism and sexual selection is the difference between male and female reproduction costs. Due to this assumed cost difference, the resulting Bellman equations of gene dynamics in our two-sex life history model imply a large “energy surplus†on the part of males. This allows the male form to devote energy to the development of some costly male traits that help the males to compete for access to females. These costly male traits are sexually dimorphic. Using this life history model, we are able to explain important features of sexual dimorphism, as well as why males often transfer less to their offspring than do females, and why only females have a menopause.

Suggested Citation

  • Cyrus Chu, C.Y. & Lee, Ronald D., 2012. "Sexual dimorphism and sexual selection: A unified economic analysis," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 82(4), pages 355-363.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:thpobi:v:82:y:2012:i:4:p:355-363
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2012.06.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bergstrom, Theodore C, 1995. "On the Evolution of Altruistic Ethical Rules for Siblings," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(1), pages 58-81, March.
    2. Richard Bellman, 1957. "On a Dynamic Programming Approach to the Caterer Problem--I," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(3), pages 270-278, April.
    3. Hausken, Kjell & Hirshleifer, Jack, 2008. "Truthful signalling, the heritability paradox, and the Malthusian equi-marginal principle," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 11-23.
    4. Donald Cox, 2007. "Biological Basics and the Economics of the Family," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 21(2), pages 91-108, Spring.
    5. Chu, C.Y. Cyrus & Chien, Hung-Ken & Lee, Ronald D., 2008. "Explaining the optimality of U-shaped age-specific mortality," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 73(2), pages 171-180.
    6. Rogers, Alan R, 1994. "Evolution of Time Preference by Natural Selection," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(3), pages 460-481, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mark R. Cullen & Michael Baiocchi & Karen Eggleston & Pooja Loftus & Victor Fuchs, 2015. "The Weaker Sex? Vulnerable Men, Resilient Women, and Variations in Sex Differences in Mortality since 1900," NBER Working Papers 21114, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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