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Are We Collapsing? A Review of Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

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  • Scott E. Page

Abstract

Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (Viking Penguin, 2005), tells the dramatic decline of past civilizations—the Easter Islanders, the Anasazi in the Southwestern United States, the Mayans in Central America, the Norse Vinland settlement in Greenland. These civilizations did not slowly fall apart; they suffered drastic reductions in population and productivity. In Diamond's account, their collapses result from mismanaged resources, lost friends, gained enemies, climate changes, and most tellingly, their cultures and beliefs. Diamond provides captivating histories and an engaging explanation of the sciences required to piece those histories together, but his logic and his prescriptions would benefit from greater familiarity with some basic principles of economics and a richer understanding of human nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott E. Page, 2005. "Are We Collapsing? A Review of Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 43(4), pages 1049-1062, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:43:y:2005:i:4:p:1049-1062
    DOI: 10.1257/002205105775362032
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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