Abstract

Trade expands the value of individual production, driving the diversity of economic activities in human societies. Since productivity depends on both chosen roles and innate abilities, we explore whether trade could have influenced human evolution by fostering genetic diversity. Using a model based on the Walrasian equilibrium framework, we examine a system where individuals produce and exchange goods, with production abilities determined by evolving genetic traits. Our analysis reveals that trade promotes the maintenance of genetic diversity, enabling the coexistence of individuals with distinct traits. We further investigate the interaction between genetic diversity and economic specialization, identifying conditions where one drives, facilitates, or depends on the other. These findings highlight the critical role of exchange economies in fostering biological and economic diversity, offering new perspectives on how cultural phenomena, such as economic systems, may have shaped human evolution.

Reference

Luis Santos-Pinto, “How Economic Exchange Shapes Human Genetic Diversity”, IAST Lunch Seminar, Toulouse: IAST, March 14, 2025, 12:45–13:45, room Auditorium 4 (First floor - TSE building).