Take-Home Problem #2

TAKE-HOME EXERCISE #2

This assignment is due at the beginning of class on Monday, November 23^rd. It is to be done individually, not in consultation with others. Please type and double-space all answers, and staple the pages together.

1. In order to test Boserup's model of the causes of agricultural intensification, you have spent many months locating and analyzing census and agricultural records in the provincial capital of "La Granja" Province, somewhere in Central America. For the time period 1700-1880, you have reason to believe that food imports have remained negligible, taxes have remained constant, land distribution has undergone little change, and household size and composition have remained essentially unaltered (how conveniently simple). Now for the questions:

a. Use Boserup's model to derive a series of testable hypotheses concerning the effects of population density and marketing opportunities on fallowing practices, land productivity, and labor efficiency (i.e., return rate). (Note that with the 2 causes and 3 effects just listed, you should be able to derive 2x3=6 hypotheses.)

b. Use the data you have obtained (Table 1, below) to test each of these hypotheses. First, explicitly define each variable, and then calculate their values from the data in Table 1 (construct a new table that contains the year in the 1st column and your new variables in additional columns). Briefly state your test results, and explain how you arrived at them.

2. Evaluate the following statements in light of theories concerning reciprocity, group size, and land tenure presented in lecture and readings. For each statement, (1) indicate the theory or model you are evaluating and why it applies, (2) state whether or not the quoted statement is in agreement with this model or theory, and (3) explain in some detail (i.e., one sizeable paragraph) why or why not.

a. "The Kwakiutl lived in an area where food resources (particularly salmon) were both abundant (at least in specific locales) and reliable. Hence their jealous defense of fishing territories cannot have been motivated by concerns over their food supply, but rather must have a non-economic cause."

b. "Datoga herders move their cattle freely to various grazing areas within the tribal lands, sharing them communally. Studies have shown that during the drier years when grazing resources are scarce, good pastures contain more cattle than the optimum. One less herd on the site would increase grazing opportunities for the remaining herds, but Datoga seem unable or unwilling to restrict the number of herds to the optimal level."

c. "It is a common observation that under normal conditions, foragers and small-scale farmers share resources with any neighbors who are suffering from temporary shortages due to vagaries of weather and accident. On the other hand, when a prolonged drought afflicts an entire region, such that starvation is widespread, sharing is minimal and it is every household for itself."

Table 1. Population and agricultural production figures for La Granja Province, 1700-1880.

Year	Number of households	Cultivated acreage^a	Acreage in fallow	Average household labor (hrs/yr)^b	Total grain production (tons/yr)	Total grain exports (tons/yr)
1700	2000	4000	16,000	1560	5,000	0
1730	3000	5000	15,000	1768	7,500	0
1760	5000	8000	12,000	2132	12,500	0
1790	6000	9000	11,000	2340	15,000	0
1820	4000^c	7000	13,000	1976	10,000	0
1850	6000	10,000	10,000	2890	17,000	2000
1880	6000	12,000	8,000	3840	21,000	6000

^aIncludes only land currently planted with crops at time of census.

^bNote that these figures are per household, while all other figures in Table 1 are totals for all households combined.

^cMajor smallpox epidemic struck in 1810.