Economic Systems of Foraging, Agricultural, and Industrial Societies

Cambridge University Press • • Published In • Pages: 316 •
By Frederic L. Pryor

Abstract

The second and third parts of this book classify the economic systems of foraging and agricultural societies in the SCCS based on correlations between their institutions of property an distribution. These economic types are then examined for relationships with other social, political, demographic, and environmental factors in order to draw tentative conclusions regarding the origins of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. The fourth part of the book uses cross-national data to examine similar associations in industrial/service economies, and is not included here.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Murdock & White (1969), Researcher's Own

Hypotheses (26)

HypothesisSupported
Institutions of property and distribution among foragers will be associated with economic development in varying ways (41).Partially supported
Foraging groups with lower levels of economic development (Classic and transitional foragers) can be identified with certain property and distribution characteristics (42).Partially supported
Foraging groups with middling levels of economic development (Human-Wealth-Oriented and Intangible-Wealth-Oriented societies) can be identified by certain property and distribution characteristics.Partially supported
Foraging societies with high levels of economic development (Politically-Oriented and Physical-Wealth-Oriented societies) can be identified by certain property and distribution characteristics (44).Partially supported
Foraging economy type (Classic, transitional, human-wealth oriented, intangible-wealth oriented, politically oriented, and physical-wealth oriented) will be associated with various environmental attributes. (49)Partially supported
Classic foraging economies will be associated with certain environmental attributes (47)Partially supported
Transitional foraging economies will be associated with certain environmental attributes (49).Not Supported
HWO foraging economies will be associated with certain environmental attributes. (48)Partially supported
IWO foraging economies will be associated with certain environmental attributes. (48)Not Supported
PO foraging economies will be associated with certain environmental attributes. (48)Partially supported
PWO foraging economies will be associated with certain environmental attributes. (48)Partially supported
Foraging economy type (Classic, transitional, human-wealth oriented, intangible-wealth oriented, politically oriented, and physical-wealth oriented) will be associated with certain social structural characteristics (50).Partially supported
Social differentiation will be positively associated with other types of inequality among different types of foraging economies. (52)Partially supported
Economic development will be associated with certain political institutions among foraging groups. (52)Partially supported
Foraging economy type (classic, transitional, human-wealth oriented, intangible-wealth oriented, politically oriented, or physical-wealth oriented) will be associated with the presence of certain political institutions. (52)Partially supported
Societies with 'intermediate' dependence on foraging will tend to possess economic systems similar to the most economically-developed foraging types (Politically- and Physical Wealth-Oriented). (55)Not Supported
Percentage of subsistence derived from agriculture will be positively associated with indicators of environmental favorability (65).Partially supported
Dependence on agriculture for subsistence will be associated with presence of healers who receive a fee for intangible services. (72)Not Supported
Dependence on agriculture for subsistence will be positively associated with various forms of socioeconomic competition. (75)Not Supported
Dependence on agriculture for subsistence will be associated with exclusive usufruct property rights. (78)No support claimed
Dependence on agriculture for subsistence will be associated with terrestrial resource stress. (81)Partial support claimed
Dependence on agriculture for subsistence will be positively associated with sedentism. (87)Partial support claimed
Societies depending on agriculture for primary subsistence can be divided into distinct economic groups based on significant positive associations with varying institutions of property and distribution. (102)Partially supported
Agricultural economy type (Herding-Plus, Egalitarian, Individualistic, or Semi-Marketized) will be associated with the presence of certain demographic and environmental characteristics. (111)Partially supported
Agricultural economy types will be 'clustered' geographically. (115)Not Supported
Agricultural economy type (Herding-Plus, Egalitarian, Individualistic, or Semi-Marketized) will be associated with the presence of certain political institutions. (116)Partially supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: jack.dunnington