The spread of inequality.
The causes of socioeconomic inequality have been debated since the time of Plato. Many reasons for the development of stratification have been proposed, from the need for hierarchical control over large-scale irrigation systems to the accumulation of small differences in wealth over time via inherit...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2011-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3177824?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811290836503101440 |
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| author | Deborah S Rogers Omkar Deshpande Marcus W Feldman |
| author_facet | Deborah S Rogers Omkar Deshpande Marcus W Feldman |
| author_sort | Deborah S Rogers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The causes of socioeconomic inequality have been debated since the time of Plato. Many reasons for the development of stratification have been proposed, from the need for hierarchical control over large-scale irrigation systems to the accumulation of small differences in wealth over time via inheritance processes. However, none of these explains how unequal societies came to completely displace egalitarian cultural norms over time. Our study models demographic consequences associated with the unequal distribution of resources in stratified societies. Agent-based simulation results show that in constant environments, unequal access to resources can be demographically destabilizing, resulting in the outward migration and spread of such societies even when population size is relatively small. In variable environments, stratified societies spread more and are also better able to survive resource shortages by sequestering mortality in the lower classes. The predictions of our simulation are provided modest support by a range of existing empirical studies. In short, the fact that stratified societies today vastly outnumber egalitarian societies may not be due to the transformation of egalitarian norms and structures, but may instead reflect the more rapid migration of stratified societies and consequent conquest or displacement of egalitarian societies over time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:19:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7661e72cb8034729abf934279a47c54c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:19:28Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-7661e72cb8034729abf934279a47c54c2022-12-22T03:02:49ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-0169e2468310.1371/journal.pone.0024683The spread of inequality.Deborah S RogersOmkar DeshpandeMarcus W FeldmanThe causes of socioeconomic inequality have been debated since the time of Plato. Many reasons for the development of stratification have been proposed, from the need for hierarchical control over large-scale irrigation systems to the accumulation of small differences in wealth over time via inheritance processes. However, none of these explains how unequal societies came to completely displace egalitarian cultural norms over time. Our study models demographic consequences associated with the unequal distribution of resources in stratified societies. Agent-based simulation results show that in constant environments, unequal access to resources can be demographically destabilizing, resulting in the outward migration and spread of such societies even when population size is relatively small. In variable environments, stratified societies spread more and are also better able to survive resource shortages by sequestering mortality in the lower classes. The predictions of our simulation are provided modest support by a range of existing empirical studies. In short, the fact that stratified societies today vastly outnumber egalitarian societies may not be due to the transformation of egalitarian norms and structures, but may instead reflect the more rapid migration of stratified societies and consequent conquest or displacement of egalitarian societies over time.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3177824?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Deborah S Rogers Omkar Deshpande Marcus W Feldman The spread of inequality. PLoS ONE |
| title | The spread of inequality. |
| title_full | The spread of inequality. |
| title_fullStr | The spread of inequality. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The spread of inequality. |
| title_short | The spread of inequality. |
| title_sort | spread of inequality |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3177824?pdf=render |
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