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Agricultural Transition and the Adoption of Primitive Technology

Author

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  • James B. ANG

    (Division of Economics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological Univer- sity. Address: 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637332.)

Abstract
This paper tests Jared Diamond’s influential theory that an earlier transition from a hunter-gatherer society to agricultural production induces higher levels of technology adoption. Using a proxy for the geographic diffusion barriers of Neolithic technology and an index of biogeographic endowments to isolate the exogenous component of the timing of agricultural transition, the findings indicate that countries that experienced earlier transitions to agriculture were subsequently more capable of adopting new technologies in 1000 BC, 1 AD and 1500 AD. These results lend strong support to Diamond’s hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • James B. ANG, 2014. "Agricultural Transition and the Adoption of Primitive Technology," Economic Growth Centre Working Paper Series 1412, Nanyang Technological University, School of Social Sciences, Economic Growth Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:nan:wpaper:1412
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chu, Angus C. & Xu, Rongxin, 2024. "From Neolithic Revolution to industrialization," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 28(3), pages 699-717, April.
    2. James B. Ang, 2019. "Agricultural legacy and individualistic culture," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 397-425, December.
    3. Per G. Fredriksson & Jim R. Wollscheid, 2018. "Legal origins and environmental policies: evidence from OECD and developing countries," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 369-375, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    technology adoption; agricultural transition; early economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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