Sexual selection, conspicuous consumption and economic growth

Collins, J; Baer, B; Weber, EJ

Sexual selection, conspicuous consumption and economic growth

Collins, J

Baer, B Weber, EJ

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Bioeconomics, 2015, 17, (2), pp. 189-206
Issue Date:: 2015-07-13

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Collins, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3073-6070
dc.contributor.author	Baer, B
dc.contributor.author	Weber, EJ
dc.date.accessioned	2022-07-27T02:43:10Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-27T02:43:10Z
dc.date.issued	2015-07-13
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Bioeconomics, 2015, 17, (2), pp. 189-206
dc.identifier.issn	1387-6996
dc.identifier.issn	1573-6989
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159194
dc.description.abstract	We propose that the evolution by sexual selection of the male propensity to engage in conspicuous consumption contributed to the emergence of modern rates of economic growth. We develop a model in which males engage in conspicuous consumption to send an honest signal of their quality to females. Females prefer males who express the costly and honest signal, leading males who engage in conspicuous consumption to have higher reproductive success than those who do not, increasing the prevalence of signalling males in the population. As males fund their conspicuous consumption through participation in the labour force, an increase in the prevalence of signalling males gives rise to an increase in economic activity that leads to economic growth.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Bioeconomics
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s10818-015-9200-9
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1402 Applied Economics, 1499 Other Economics
dc.subject.classification	Economics
dc.title	Sexual selection, conspicuous consumption and economic growth
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	17
utslib.for	1402 Applied Economics
utslib.for	1499 Other Economics
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Economics Discipline
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-07-27T02:43:09Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	17
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

We propose that the evolution by sexual selection of the male propensity to engage in conspicuous consumption contributed to the emergence of modern rates of economic growth. We develop a model in which males engage in conspicuous consumption to send an honest signal of their quality to females. Females prefer males who express the costly and honest signal, leading males who engage in conspicuous consumption to have higher reproductive success than those who do not, increasing the prevalence of signalling males in the population. As males fund their conspicuous consumption through participation in the labour force, an increase in the prevalence of signalling males gives rise to an increase in economic activity that leads to economic growth.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159194