John C. V. Pezzey () (Australian National University, Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, University of Bath, Department of Economics) John M. Anderies () (Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organisation, Sustainable Ecosystems)
Abstract
We extend the Brander-Taylor model of population and resource development in an isolated society by adding a resource subsistence requirement to people's preferences. This improves plausibility; amplifies population overshoot and collapse, and makes the steady state less stable; and allows for complete cessation of non-harvesting activities, in line with archaeological evidence for many societies. We then use bifurcation techniques to give a global analysis of four types of institutional adaptation: an ad valorem resource tax, and quotas on total resource harvest, total harvest effort and per capita effort. In all cases we find that a higher subsistence requirement makes it harder, or often impossible, for adaptation to avoid overshoot and collapse.
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