Economic Systems of Foraging, Agricultural, and Industrial Societies

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

Hypothesis

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)

Note

Absolute latitude, famine threat, and percentage of subsistence derived from fishing are all positively associated, and effective temperature and percentage of subsistence derived from gathering are negatively associated with economic development. No other variables listed were significantly associated.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressionPartially supportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Absolute LatitudeDependentLocation
Agricultural PotentialDependentTillage
Effective TemperatureDependentClimate
FishingDependentDiet
GatheringDependentDiet
HuntingDependentDiet
EvapotranspirationDependentClimate
Famine ThreatDependentDisasters
Contact with WestDependentAcculturation And Culture Contact
Foraging Economy TypeIndependentFood Quest

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Frederic L. PryorForaging 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)
Frederic L. PryorForaging 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).
Frederic L. PryorSocieties 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)
Frederic L. PryorForaging groups with middling levels of economic development (Human-Wealth-Oriented and Intangible-Wealth-Oriented societies) can be identified by certain property and distribution characteristics.
Frederic L. PryorForaging societies with high levels of economic development (Politically-Oriented and Physical-Wealth-Oriented societies) can be identified by certain property and distribution characteristics (44).