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Transition to agriculture and first state presence: A global analysis

Author

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  • Borcan, Oana
  • Olsson, Ola
  • Putterman, Louis
Abstract
It has often been observed that the emergence of states in a region is typically preceded by an earlier transition to agricultural production. Using new data on the date of first state emergence within contemporary countries, we present a global scale analysis of the chronological relationship between the transition to agriculture and the subsequent emergence of states. We find statistically significant relationships between early reliance on agriculture and state age in all sub-samples and also when we use alternative sources of data at different levels of geographical aggregation. A one millennium earlier transition to agriculture among non-pristine states predicts a 317-430 year earlier state emergence. We uncover differences in cases where states were imposed from outside or when they emerged through internal origination. The agriculture-state lag is on average 3.1 millennia in internally originated (including pristine) states, and 2.7 millennia in externally originated states. We also explore some of the mechanisms through which agriculture is believed to have influenced the emergence of states. Our results indicate that the rise of social classes was often an intermediate step towards the presence of early states.

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  • Borcan, Oana & Olsson, Ola & Putterman, Louis, 2021. "Transition to agriculture and first state presence: A global analysis," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:82:y:2021:i:c:s001449832100022x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2021.101404
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    Cited by:

    1. James Kai-sing Kung & Ömer Özak & Louis Putterman & Shuang Shi, 2020. "Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World's Most Enduring Mega-State," Departmental Working Papers 2202, Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics.
    2. James Kai-sing Kung & Ömer Özal & Louis Putterman & Shuang Shi, 2022. "Millet, Rice, and Isolation: Origins and Persistence of the World’s Most Enduring Mega-State," Working Papers 2022-003, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    3. Chandan Kumar Jha & Sudipta Sarangi & Ishita Tripathi, 2023. "Do historical agro-ecological factors shape current attitudes towards women’s rights and abilities?," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 87-104, July.
    4. Andrew Dickens & Nils‐Petter Lagerlöf, 2023. "The long‐run agglomeration effects of early agriculture in Europe," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 629-651, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural transition; States;

    JEL classification:

    • N50 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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