Working Paper: NBER ID: w30221
Authors: Raphal Franck; Oded Galor; Omer Moav; Mer Zak
Abstract: This research explores the persistent effect of the Neolithic Revolution on the evolution of life expectancy in the course of human history. It advances the hypothesis and establishes empirically that the onset of the Neolithic Revolution and the associated rise in infectious diseases triggered a process of adaptation reducing mortality from infectious diseases while increasing the propensity for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Exploiting an exogenous source of variation in the timing of the Neolithic Revolution across French regions, the analysis establishes the presence of these conflicting forces - the beneficial effects on life expectancy before the second epidemiological transition and their adverse effects thereafter.
Keywords: Neolithic Revolution; Life Expectancy; Infectious Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases
JEL Codes: I15; O10
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| timing of the neolithic revolution (N54) | life expectancy (J17) |
| timing of the neolithic revolution (N54) | log life expectancy (J17) |
| timing of the neolithic revolution (N54) | life expectancy (after second epidemiological transition) (J17) |
| timing of the neolithic revolution (N54) | mortality from infectious diseases (I12) |
| timing of the neolithic revolution (N54) | adaptation of the immune system (F22) |
| present-day descendants of populations exposed to the neolithic revolution (N54) | autoimmune diseases (I12) |
| present-day descendants of populations exposed to the neolithic revolution (N54) | overall health status (I14) |