The Shadow of the Neolithic Revolution on Life Expectancy: A Double-Edged Sword
84 Pages Posted: 11 Jul 2022 Last revised: 14 Apr 2023
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The Shadow of the Neolithic Revolution on Life Expectancy: A Double-Edged Sword
The Shadow of the Neolithic Revolution on Life Expectancy: A Double-Edged Sword
The Shadow of the Neolithic Revolution on Life Expectancy: A Double-Edged Sword
The Shadow of the Neolithic Revolution on Life Expectancy: A Double-Edged Sword
The Shadow of the Neolithic Revolution on Life Expectancy: a Double-Edged Sword
Date Written: July 2022
Abstract
This research explores the persistent effect of the Neolithic Revolution on the evolution of life expectancy in the course of human history. It advances the hypothesis and establishes empirically that the onset of the Neolithic Revolution and the associated rise in infectious diseases triggered a process of adaptation reducing mortality from infectious diseases while increasing the propensity for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Exploiting an exogenous source of variation in the timing of the Neolithic Revolution across French regions, the analysis establishes the presence of these conflicting forces - the beneficial effects on life expectancy before the second epidemiological transition and their adverse effects thereafter.
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