TY - JOUR
T1 - Does civilization cause discontentment among indigenous Amazonians? Test of empirical data from the Tsimane' of Bolivia
AU - Godoy, Ricardo
AU - Zeinalova, Elizabeth
AU - Reyes-García, Victoria
AU - Huanca, Tomás
AU - Kosiewicz, Holly
AU - Leonard, William R.
AU - Tanner, Susan
N1 - Funding Information:
The Cultural and Physical Anthropology Programs, National Science Foundation ( BCS-0134225 , BCS-0200767 , BCS-0322380 ), provided funding for this research. The Institutional Review Board for research with human subjects of Northwestern University approved the study protocol. The Great Tsimane’ Council also approved the study. Before enrollment in the study we obtained assent from participants in the study. Thanks go to J. Cari, S. Cari, E. Conde, V. Cuata, B. Nate, D. Pache, J. Pache, P. Pache, M. Roca, and E. Tayo for help collecting data and logistical support. Thanks also go to the Gran Consejo Tsimane’ for their continuous support throughout this research project and to JOEP reviewers for thoughtful comments on an earlier draft.
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - Despite the pervasiveness of international trade, the effects of trade opening on the psyche have received scant attention. We present three hypotheses about the likely effects of trade opening on the following five dimensions of the psyche: mirth (smiles), anger, addiction, stress, and regret. To test the hypotheses we use a survey of ∼605 people ≥16. years of age from a highly autarkic native Amazonian society of foragers and farmers in Bolivia (Tsimane') with high levels of impulsivity. As explanatory variables we use four measures of trade opening and a wide range of controls. Regret at buying durable assets during the previous year and addiction bore a positive association with two measures of trade opening: monetary income in the last 2 weeks and outstanding monetary debts owed to one or owed to the rest of the world. International trade theory predicts that trade opening expands choices in consumption, but among impulsive people in a highly autarkic society, more choice can beget more addiction and buyer's regret. We found no association between trade opening and smiles, anger, or stress, consistent with recent findings from industrial societies suggesting weak or ambiguous links between monetary income and these indicators of subjective well-being.
AB - Despite the pervasiveness of international trade, the effects of trade opening on the psyche have received scant attention. We present three hypotheses about the likely effects of trade opening on the following five dimensions of the psyche: mirth (smiles), anger, addiction, stress, and regret. To test the hypotheses we use a survey of ∼605 people ≥16. years of age from a highly autarkic native Amazonian society of foragers and farmers in Bolivia (Tsimane') with high levels of impulsivity. As explanatory variables we use four measures of trade opening and a wide range of controls. Regret at buying durable assets during the previous year and addiction bore a positive association with two measures of trade opening: monetary income in the last 2 weeks and outstanding monetary debts owed to one or owed to the rest of the world. International trade theory predicts that trade opening expands choices in consumption, but among impulsive people in a highly autarkic society, more choice can beget more addiction and buyer's regret. We found no association between trade opening and smiles, anger, or stress, consistent with recent findings from industrial societies suggesting weak or ambiguous links between monetary income and these indicators of subjective well-being.
KW - Amazon
KW - Bolivia
KW - Markets
KW - Psyche
KW - Trade opening
KW - Tsimane'
KW - Well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=75749112200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=75749112200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.joep.2010.04.001
DO - 10.1016/j.joep.2010.04.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:75749112200
VL - 31
SP - 587
EP - 598
JO - Journal of Economic Psychology
JF - Journal of Economic Psychology
SN - 0167-4870
IS - 4
ER -