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The economics of early social stratification

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Author Info
Rowthorn, Robert
Guzmán, Ricardo Andrés
Rodríguez-Sickert, Carlos

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Abstract

We develop an endogenous fertility model of social stratification with two hereditary classes: a warrior elite and a peasantry. Our model shows that the extra cost warriors must incur to raise their children and to equip them for war is the key determinant of (1) the relative sizes of both classes and (2) the warriors' economic privileges in terms of income and consumption. Higher costs of warrior children imply greater economic privileges for warriors and a smaller ratio of warriors to peasants. Historical evidence confirms this prediction. Finally, we identify conditions under which the military function of warriors may legitimise their privileges.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number 10115.

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Date of creation: 07 Sep 2008
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Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:10115

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Related research
Keywords: Social stratification; income inequality; warfare; military participation ratio; Malthus; economic history; economic sociology; economic anthropology; population economics.;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics
J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Income, and Wealth
N4 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, and Regulation

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    Other versions:
  2. Boone, J., 2000. "Competition," Discussion Paper 104, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. J. Henrich & R. Boyd, 2007. "Division of Labor, Economic Specialization and the Evolution of Social Stratification," Papers on Economics and Evolution 2007-20, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Evolutionary Economics Group. [Downloadable!]
  4. Costabile, Lilia & Rowthorn, Bob, 1985. "Malthus's Theory of Wages and Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 95(378), pages 418-37, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Razin, Assaf & Ben-Zion, Uri, 1975. "An Intergenerational Model of Population Growth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 65(5), pages 923-33, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Eckstein, Zvi & Stern, Steven & Wolpin, Kenneth I, 1988. "Fertility Choice, Land, and the Malthusian Hypothesis," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 29(2), pages 353-61, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Michele Boldrin & Larry E. Jones, 2002. "Mortality, Fertility, and Saving in a Malthusian Economy," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 5(4), pages 775-814, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Nerlove, Marc & Razin, Assaf & Sadka, Efraim, 1986. "Endogenous Population with Public Goods and Malthusian Fixed Resources: Efficiency or Market Failure," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 27(3), pages 601-09, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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