Economia
Lactose e direitos de propriedade
Poderia a intolerância à lactose determinar as instituições adotadas por um povo? Quando um marxista como Immanuel Wallerstein e Charles Tilly elogiam um livro, então é hora de considerar seriamente a pergunta.
Parece ser o caso deste livro: When Histories Collide : The Development and Impact of Individualistic Capitalism, do falecido Raymond Crotty. Um trecho, de uma resenha do mesmo, é este:
In ancient times the acquisition of lactose tolerance made it possible for more pastoralists, and therefore more efficient pastoralists, to subsist on given pastoral resources. It shifted the ancient balance of power from the crop-growing, lactose malabsorbent peoples who built the first city civilisations in the valleys of the Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Nile and Yangtze, toward the pastoralists.
The modern world is one created by the Indo-European pastoralist peoples who, having acquired lactose tolerance, domesticated the horse and discovered metallurgy. Their acquisition of lactose tolerance was the basis of their survival and increased living standards.
They entered western Europe four to five thousand years ago and used their cattle to clear the forest and grow crops. They used capital, in the form of cattle, seeds and implements, to raise their output by their own efforts.
Whereas production in all other societies had been determined by the fixed amount of land or slaves available, neither the amount nor productivity of capital was inherently limited. In Crotty’s view, this was the origin, uniquely in Europe, of capital, individualism and the rule of law.
The rule of law in Europe was the expression of the unique political-economic relationship that existed between the individual and society in a situation where land did not limit production and where the individual’s production sustained himself and simultaneously enhanced the productivity and security of his fellows.
The individual hunter-gatherer, the individual on the communally grazed rather than individually owned pastures of the Asiatic steppes, and in the crowded river valleys of crop-growing ancient society, were powerless to add to productivity by their own efforts. Rather, by their presence they reduced the amount available to all the other members of society.
Ver também este paper (em pdf). Mas, provavelmente o Leo sabe mais sobre o autor do que eu...
- Causas Do Crescimento Econômico
Leia o que Robert Higgs identifica como os fatores centrais do crescimento econômico: "... How did the West succeed in generating sustained economic progress? Historians and social scientists have offered various hypotheses, and so far no single explanation...
- O Brasil Vai Ruinar A Sua Riqueza Mais Uma Vez?
Escreve Chris Mayer: Brazil Screws Up Dear Capital & Crisis Reader, Brazilian agriculture looked set to become the breadbasket of the world in the 21st century. It seemed to have everything. Lots of flatland. Plenty of water and sunshine. Already,...
- A Origem Do Estado: Expropriação E Transparência Da Atividade Econômica
Interessante artigo que argumenta que a origem do estado está relacionada ao surgimento da agricultura, que torna a atividade econômica mais visível (e expropriável). Embora este argumento não seja novo, vale a pena ler o artigo pela boa mistura...
-
Vamos beber sakê? Este paper vai dar o que falar.... :D This paper examines the relationship between labor productivity and alcohol consumption based on research conducted with a limited sample of workers who drink alcohol. Estimation results...
-
Taí um encontro no qual eu gostaria de estar Mas é só para gente muiiiiiito selecionada. Creiam-me. The Mont Pelerin Society Agora, o concurso, se você sabe inglês, é genial: The Board of Directors of the Mont Pelerin Society Announces...
Economia
Lactose e direitos de propriedade
Poderia a intolerância à lactose determinar as instituições adotadas por um povo? Quando um marxista como Immanuel Wallerstein e Charles Tilly elogiam um livro, então é hora de considerar seriamente a pergunta.
Parece ser o caso deste livro: When Histories Collide : The Development and Impact of Individualistic Capitalism, do falecido Raymond Crotty. Um trecho, de uma resenha do mesmo, é este:
In ancient times the acquisition of lactose tolerance made it possible for more pastoralists, and therefore more efficient pastoralists, to subsist on given pastoral resources. It shifted the ancient balance of power from the crop-growing, lactose malabsorbent peoples who built the first city civilisations in the valleys of the Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Nile and Yangtze, toward the pastoralists.
The modern world is one created by the Indo-European pastoralist peoples who, having acquired lactose tolerance, domesticated the horse and discovered metallurgy. Their acquisition of lactose tolerance was the basis of their survival and increased living standards.
They entered western Europe four to five thousand years ago and used their cattle to clear the forest and grow crops. They used capital, in the form of cattle, seeds and implements, to raise their output by their own efforts.
Whereas production in all other societies had been determined by the fixed amount of land or slaves available, neither the amount nor productivity of capital was inherently limited. In Crotty’s view, this was the origin, uniquely in Europe, of capital, individualism and the rule of law.
The rule of law in Europe was the expression of the unique political-economic relationship that existed between the individual and society in a situation where land did not limit production and where the individual’s production sustained himself and simultaneously enhanced the productivity and security of his fellows.
The individual hunter-gatherer, the individual on the communally grazed rather than individually owned pastures of the Asiatic steppes, and in the crowded river valleys of crop-growing ancient society, were powerless to add to productivity by their own efforts. Rather, by their presence they reduced the amount available to all the other members of society.
Ver também este paper (em pdf). Mas, provavelmente o Leo sabe mais sobre o autor do que eu...
loading...
- Causas Do Crescimento Econômico
Leia o que Robert Higgs identifica como os fatores centrais do crescimento econômico: "... How did the West succeed in generating sustained economic progress? Historians and social scientists have offered various hypotheses, and so far no single explanation...
- O Brasil Vai Ruinar A Sua Riqueza Mais Uma Vez?
Escreve Chris Mayer: Brazil Screws Up Dear Capital & Crisis Reader, Brazilian agriculture looked set to become the breadbasket of the world in the 21st century. It seemed to have everything. Lots of flatland. Plenty of water and sunshine. Already,...
- A Origem Do Estado: Expropriação E Transparência Da Atividade Econômica
Interessante artigo que argumenta que a origem do estado está relacionada ao surgimento da agricultura, que torna a atividade econômica mais visível (e expropriável). Embora este argumento não seja novo, vale a pena ler o artigo pela boa mistura...
-
Vamos beber sakê? Este paper vai dar o que falar.... :D This paper examines the relationship between labor productivity and alcohol consumption based on research conducted with a limited sample of workers who drink alcohol. Estimation results...
-
Taí um encontro no qual eu gostaria de estar Mas é só para gente muiiiiiito selecionada. Creiam-me. The Mont Pelerin Society Agora, o concurso, se você sabe inglês, é genial: The Board of Directors of the Mont Pelerin Society Announces...