Logical analysis of three overlapping drags vs. supports for societal development, depending on the prevailing cultural practices in each world geographic zone.
Fascinating essay. Fits so well with Joseph Henrich's inverse theory on the sources of Western prosperity, viz., that the early Church's ban on cousin-marriage inadvertently forced the rise of non-kin/clan networks as forms of social organization, which fostered unprecedented forms & rates of innovation, economic development, & scientific/technological advance. (Another nail in the West-o-phobes coffin . . .)
Had to read the sections on polygamy more carefully.
Like a lack of democratic government, the existence of polygamy culture relegates those countries to low productivity because fewer people can meaningfully participate in value creation.
That also seems to contribute to the productivity contrast between many poor southern hemisphere Asian countries versus productive South American countries, both hot/arid.
"Two hundred years ago, Europeans all but eliminated polygamy there (Europe), and today its former colonies (South America)have almost caught up with the West"
It's hard to picture this: of the Latin American economies only Chile is considered "developed " by the IMF. In the IMF Human Development Index none are in the top rank.
Latin American countries, Chile, Argentina and Brazil only, have pulled ahead in development compared to all regions in Africa and most in Asia but by no means are close to Western ones.
This is even more so in high tech where only Brazil has made inroads in aviation and manufacturing.
Per Ayaan's point below, the differences between Latin American and African countries, as measured by development, are immense. Glossing over them leads nowhere good.
Logical analysis of three overlapping drags vs. supports for societal development, depending on the prevailing cultural practices in each world geographic zone.
Well worth reading.
Fascinating essay. Fits so well with Joseph Henrich's inverse theory on the sources of Western prosperity, viz., that the early Church's ban on cousin-marriage inadvertently forced the rise of non-kin/clan networks as forms of social organization, which fostered unprecedented forms & rates of innovation, economic development, & scientific/technological advance. (Another nail in the West-o-phobes coffin . . .)
What a WEIRD idea!
Thanks, but Henrich says something entirely different, as my review of that book states https://www.americanpurpose.com/articles/family-ties/.
Had to read the sections on polygamy more carefully.
Like a lack of democratic government, the existence of polygamy culture relegates those countries to low productivity because fewer people can meaningfully participate in value creation.
That also seems to contribute to the productivity contrast between many poor southern hemisphere Asian countries versus productive South American countries, both hot/arid.
"Two hundred years ago, Europeans all but eliminated polygamy there (Europe), and today its former colonies (South America)have almost caught up with the West"
It's hard to picture this: of the Latin American economies only Chile is considered "developed " by the IMF. In the IMF Human Development Index none are in the top rank.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index
Latin American countries, Chile, Argentina and Brazil only, have pulled ahead in development compared to all regions in Africa and most in Asia but by no means are close to Western ones.
This is even more so in high tech where only Brazil has made inroads in aviation and manufacturing.
Ok, I take your point. But it's a little unfair. Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, and so on, have a long way to go. But they are not the Congo.
Per Ayaan's point below, the differences between Latin American and African countries, as measured by development, are immense. Glossing over them leads nowhere good.
As a Latin American born and bred, the gaps between Latin America and Africa are smaller than the gaps between Latin America and the United States.