From Barter to Market: an Agent-Based Model of Prehistoric Market Development

IF 3.2 1区 历史学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY
Jangsuk Kim, Matthew Conte, Yongje Oh, Jiyoung Park
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Abstract

Despite interest in preindustrial markets, archaeological discussions have largely been limited to proposing methods to determine the presence or absence of market exchange in ancient societies. While these contributions are important, methodological limitations have prevented theoretical considerations of the emergence and evolution of marketplaces and market exchange in prehistory. We propose that agent-based modeling provides a window to explore physical conditions and agent behaviors that facilitate the emergence of customary exchange locations and how such locations may evolve into socially embedded institutions. The model we designed suggests that simple bartering rules among agents can generate concentrated locations of exchange and that spatial heterogeneity of resources is the most important factor in facilitating the emergence of such locales. Furthermore, partner-search behaviors and exchange of information play a key role in the institutionalization of the marketplace. The results of our simulation suggest that marketplaces can develop, even with the absence of formalized currency or central planning, as a consequence of collective strategies taken up by agents to reduce exchange partner-search costs and make transactions more frequent and predictable. The model also suggests that, once established as a social institution, marketplaces may become highly conservative and resistant to change. As such, it is inferred that bottom-up and/or top-down interventions may have often been required to establish new marketplaces or relocate marketplaces to incorporate new resources, resolve supply–demand imbalances, or minimize rising economic costs that arise as a result of social, political, and economic change.

Abstract Image

从易货贸易到市场:基于代理的史前市场发展模型
尽管人们对工业化前的市场很感兴趣,但考古学的讨论在很大程度上仅限于提出确定古代社会是否存在市场交换的方法。尽管这些贡献非常重要,但方法论上的局限性阻碍了对史前市场和市场交换的出现和演变进行理论上的思考。我们提出,基于代理的模型为探索物理条件和代理行为提供了一个窗口,这些物理条件和代理行为促进了习惯交换地点的出现,以及这些地点如何演变为社会嵌入机构。我们设计的模型表明,代理人之间简单的以物易物规则可以产生集中的交换地点,而资源的空间异质性是促进这种地点出现的最重要因素。此外,寻找合作伙伴的行为和信息交流在市场制度化过程中发挥着关键作用。我们的模拟结果表明,即使没有正规的货币或中央计划,市场也能发展起来,这是因为代理人采取了集体策略,以降低寻找交换伙伴的成本,并使交易更加频繁和可预测。该模型还表明,市场一旦成为一种社会制度,就会变得高度保守和抗拒变革。因此,我们推断,可能经常需要自下而上和/或自上而下的干预,以建立新的市场或迁移市场,从而纳入新的资源,解决供需失衡问题,或最大限度地降低因社会、政治和经济变革而导致的经济成本上升。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
6.30
自引率
8.70%
发文量
43
期刊介绍: The Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, the leading journal in its field,  presents original articles that address method- or theory-focused issues of current archaeological interest and represent significant explorations on the cutting edge of the discipline.   The journal also welcomes topical syntheses that critically assess and integrate research on a specific subject in archaeological method or theory, as well as examinations of the history of archaeology.    Written by experts, the articles benefit an international audience of archaeologists, students of archaeology, and practitioners of closely related disciplines.  Specific topics covered in recent issues include:  the use of nitche construction theory in archaeology,  new developments in the use of soil chemistry in archaeological interpretation, and a model for the prehistoric development of clothing.  The Journal''s distinguished Editorial Board includes archaeologists with worldwide archaeological knowledge (the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Africa), and expertise in a wide range of methodological and theoretical issues.  Rated ''A'' in the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory is rated ''A'' in the ERIH, a new reference index that aims to help evenly access the scientific quality of Humanities research output. For more information visit: http://www.esf.org/research-areas/humanities/activities/research-infrastructures.html Rated ''A'' in the Australian Research Council Humanities and Creative Arts Journal List.  For more information, visit: http://www.arc.gov.au/era/journal_list_dev.htm
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