Bentley, R.A. and Hahn, M.W. and Shennan, S.J. (2004) Random drift and culture change. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B , 271 (1547) pp. 1443-1450. 10.1098/rspb.2004.2746.
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Abstract
We show that the frequency distributions of cultural variants, in three different real–world examples—first names, archaeological pottery and applications for technology patents—follow power laws that can be explained by a simple model of random drift. We conclude that cultural and economic choices often reflect a decision process that is value–neutral; this result has far–reaching testable implications for social–science research.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Random drift and culture change |
| DOI: | 10.1098/rspb.2004.2746 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2004.2746 |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | Cultural evolution, random genetic drift, patents, first names, pottery, power laws |
| UCL classification: | UCL > School of Arts and Social Sciences > Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences > Institute of Archaeology |
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