Human Brain Evolution in a Malthusian Economy

Chu, Angus C. (2023): Human Brain Evolution in a Malthusian Economy.

Abstract

This study develops a Malthusian growth model with heterogeneous agents and natural selection to explore the evolution of human brain size. We find that if the cognitive advantage of a larger brain dominates its higher metabolic costs, then the average brain size increases over time, which is consistent with the rising trend in human brain size that started over 2 million years ago. Furthermore, an improvement in hunting-gathering productivity gives rise to a larger optimal brain size in human evolution. Finally, as the average brain size increases, the average level of hunting-gathering productivity also rises, generating a positive feedback loop.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Natural selection; brain size evolution; Malthusian growth theory
• Subjects: N - Economic History > N1 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics ; Industrial Structure ; Growth ; Fluctuations; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O13 - Agriculture ; Natural Resources ; Energy ; Environment ; Other Primary Products; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q56 - Environment and Development ; Environment and Trade ; Sustainability ; Environmental Accounts and Accounting ; Environmental Equity ; Population Growth

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