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Developmental and cultural factors in economic beliefs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2018

Helena Miton  and
Dan Sperber
Helena Miton
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Science, Central European University, Budapest 1051, Hungary. helena.miton@gmail.comdan.sperber@gmail.comwww.dan.sperber.fr
Dan Sperber
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Science, Central European University, Budapest 1051, Hungary. helena.miton@gmail.comdan.sperber@gmail.comwww.dan.sperber.fr
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Abstract

Boyer & Petersen (B&P) assume that the intuitive systems underlying folk-economic beliefs (FEBs), and, in particular, emporiophobia, evolved in the environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA), before markets. This makes the historical development of markets puzzling. We suggest that what evolved in the EEA are templates that help children develop intuitive systems partly adjusted to their cultural environment. This helps resolve the puzzle.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 41 , 2018 , e182
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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References

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