Alger, Ingela (2020) On the evolution of male competitiveness. TSE Working Paper, n. 20-1093, Toulouse

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Abstract

Since a man’s reproductive success depends on his ability to outcompete other men, male competitiveness may be expected to have been exposed to strong selective pressure throughout human history. Accordingly, the relatively low level of physical violence observed between men has been viewed as a puzzle. What could have limited the eagerness of men to out-compete each other? I study the evolution of male competitiveness in a model where men compete for both reproductive and productive resources. I show that high levels of male competitiveness are then consistent with evolution by natural selection if (a) the ecology is generous enough for men to supply little or no food to their children, (b) competing is not too costly in terms of productive resources, and (c) relatedness among males is low enough.

Item Type: Monograph (Working Paper)
Language: English
Date: July 2020
Place of Publication: Toulouse
JEL Classification: C73 - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games; Repeated Games
D73 - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
Subjects: B- ECONOMIE ET FINANCE
Divisions: TSE-R (Toulouse)
Institution: Université Toulouse 1 Capitole
Site: UT1
Date Deposited: 27 Apr 2020 08:39
Last Modified: 08 Jun 2023 08:10
OAI Identifier: oai:tse-fr.eu:124216
URI: https://publications.ut-capitole.fr/id/eprint/34722

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