T he Ernst Strüngmann Forum, whose mission is to promote interdisciplinary communication and research, brings together eminent scientists and scholars to discuss themes that transcend classic disciplinary boundaries. The forum, dedicated to cultural evolution offered a unique, powerful opportunity to explore how historical, biological, anthropological, and sociological insights into social structure can forge a framework for vigorous cross-disciplinary cultural research. have assembled a compelling picture of the evolution of societies, technology, language, and religion-with culture at the epicenter.
The book is a must-have for economists and any other social scientists interested in the evolution of behavior. Using the book as a starting point, this article sums up what cultural evolution can teach us about these four major aspects of human behavior. Each topic is also linked to the relevant empirical research in economics.Directions for future research integrating cultural evolution into an economic framework are also explored. ( JEL D72, O33, O43, Z12, Z13) * UCLA Anderson School of Management. † Go to http://dx.