Rice Farming and the Origins of Cooperative Behaviour

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Zhou, Xiaoyu; Alysandratos, Theodore; Naef, Michael
• 署名单位: University of Erlangen Nuremberg; Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg; Durham University
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/uead030
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 2504-2532
• 关键词: culture; PUNISHMENT; EVOLUTION; chinese; individualism; preferences; dispersal; fairness; beliefs; NORMS

摘要

This paper provides novel evidence for links between historic farming practices and current norms of cooperative behaviour. We hypothesise that the cooperation required in wetland rice farming gives rise to strong cultural norms of cooperativeness. We compare participants from prefecture cities that predominately practice wetland rice cultivation to those from non-rice regions. A public goods game with and without punishment is the main measure for cooperative behaviour. Results indicate a strong and robust positive effect of wetland rice farming on cooperative behaviour and pro-social punishment. Complementary, consistent evidence from a natural field experiment and a survey further enriches our data.