Economics in Nature: Social Dilemmas, Mate Choice and Biological Markets

by Ronald Noë, Jan A. R. A. M. Van Hooff, Peter Hammerstein

Overview

Studies of sexual selection, interspecific mutualism, and intraspecific cooperation show that individuals exchange commodities to their mutual benefit. The exchange values of commodities are a source of conflict, and behavioral mechanisms such as partner choice and contest between competitors determines the composition of trading pairs or groups. These "biological markets" can be examined to gain a better understanding of the underlying principles of evolutionary ecology. In this volume scientists from different disciplines combine insights from economics, evolutionary biology, and the social sciences to look at comparative aspects of economic behavior in humans and other animals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521650144
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/02/2001
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.29(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Games and markets: economic behaviour in humans and other animals Peter Hammerstein; Part I. Economic Behavior in Social Networks: 2. Social dilemmas and human behaviour Elinor Ostrom; 3. Cooperation and collective action in animal behaviour Charles Nunn and Rebecca J. Lewis; 4. Conflict, reconciliation and negotiation in non-human primates: the value of long-term relationships Jan A. R. A. M Van Hooff; Part II. Biological Markets: 5. Biological markets: partner choice as the driving force behind the evolution of mutualisms Ronald Noë; 6. The utility of grooming in baboon troops Louise Barrett and Peter S. Henzi; 7. The cleaner fish market Redouan Bshary; 8. Modeling interspecific mutualisms as biological markets Jason D. Hoeksema and Mark W. Schwartz; Part III. Mating Markets: 9. Human mate choice strategies Boguslaw Pawlowski and Robin I. M. Dunbar; 10. How does mate choice contribute to exaggeration and diversity in sexual characters? Andrew Pomiankowski and Yoh Iwasa; 11. Information about sperm competition and the economics of sperm allocation Geoffrey A. Parker and Mike A. Ball; 12. The economics of male mating strategies Robin I. M. Dunbar.

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a candid portrait of current knowledge about trad among all kinds of organisms." Michael Mesterton-Gibbons, Quarterly Review of Biology

"There are some excellent chapters and an intriguing cast of interdisciplinary contributers... this is a good book..." Monique Borgerhoff Mulder, American Journal of Human Biology

"Keddy has produced an engaging and readable text for both those interested in wetlands and ecologists who are unfamiliar with them." EcoScience

From the Publisher