Spanning the last 2 million years, the author explores the possible impact of economics on human evolution, prehistory and natural history.
Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; Part I. Bioeconomics: 2. Exchange in human and nonhuman societies; 3. Classical economics and classical Darwinism; 4. Evolutionary implications of division of labour; 5. The feeding ecology; 6. The origins of nepotistic exchange; 7. Baboon speciation versus human specialization; Part II. Paleoeconomics: 8. Departure from the feed-as-you-go strategy; 9. The origins of market exchange; 10. Domestication of fire in relation to market exchange; 11. The Upper Paleolithic and other creative explosions; 12. Transition to agriculture: the limiting factor; 13. Transition to agriculture: the facilitating factor; References; Index.
Haim Ofek is Professor of Economics at Binghamton University, NY.
'! the boldness, coherence, and sweep of the book are impressive ! an exhilarating and interesting read that raises powerful questions about how humans got here and how we should be studied.' Science