TY - UNPB

T1 - The Origins of Governments

T2 - From Amorphy to Anarchy and Hierarchy

AU - Baker, Matthew

AU - Bulte, Erwin

AU - Weisdorf, Jacob Louis

N1 - JEL Classification: D74, O10, N4

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - We analyze development trajectories of early civilizations where population size and technology are endogenous, and derive conditions under which such societies optimally “switch” from anarchy to hierarchy – when it is optimal to elect and support a ruler. The ruler provides an efficient level of law and order, but creams off part of society’s surplus for his own consumption. Switching to hierarchy occurs if the state of technology exceeds a threshold value, but societies may also be “trapped” at lower levels of technology – perpetuating conditions of anarchy. We present empirical evidence based on the Standard Cross Cultural Sample that support the model’s main predictions

AB - We analyze development trajectories of early civilizations where population size and technology are endogenous, and derive conditions under which such societies optimally “switch” from anarchy to hierarchy – when it is optimal to elect and support a ruler. The ruler provides an efficient level of law and order, but creams off part of society’s surplus for his own consumption. Switching to hierarchy occurs if the state of technology exceeds a threshold value, but societies may also be “trapped” at lower levels of technology – perpetuating conditions of anarchy. We present empirical evidence based on the Standard Cross Cultural Sample that support the model’s main predictions

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - origins of institutions

KW - common defense

KW - raiding

KW - hunter-gatherers

KW - SCCS

M3 - Working paper

BT - The Origins of Governments

PB - Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen

CY - Cph.

ER -