Economic Considerations for the Evolution of Cooperation

Abstract

We contend that a tendency toward cooperative behavior in humans was magnifed by humans dealing with one another in trade and in joint activity such as big game hunting. Relative specialization by task (division of labor) provided a setting for trade to be gainful to all traders. Humans agglomerated to take advantage of specialization and trade. We also reflect on situations in which only some sort of negotiation or bargaining will allow joint-tasks to get carried out.