Journal
HUMAN ECOLOGY
Volume 44, Issue 3, Pages 353-364Publisher
SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS
DOI: 10.1007/s10745-016-9823-z
Keywords
Need-based transfers; Account-keeping transfers; Risk pooling; Herd survival outcomes; Maasai; East Africa
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [SES-0345945, BCS-1324333]
- National Institute of Health [F32 CA144331]
- John Templeton Foundation
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Using an agent-based model to study risk-pooling in herder dyads using rules derived from Maasai osotua (umbilical cord) relationships, Aktipis et al. (2011) found that osotua transfers led to more risk-pooling and better herd survival than both no transfers and transfers that occurred at frequencies tied to those seen in the osotua simulations. Here we expand this approach by comparing osotua-style transfers to another type of livestock transfer among Maasai known as esile (debt). In osotua, one asks if in need, and one gives in response to such requests if doing so will not threaten one's own survival. In esile relationships, accounts are kept and debts must be repaid. We refer to these as need-based and account-keeping systems, respectively. Need-based transfers lead to more risk pooling and higher survival than account keeping. Need-based transfers also lead to greater wealth equality and are game theoretically dominant to account-keeping rules.
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