Max Posch
@maxposch.bsky.social
Assistant professor University of Exeter | Harvard affiliate | working on the social and cultural foundations of economic development | FirstGen
WHY❓Mechanisms:
1️⃣ A direct channel✅
Adaptation is concentrated in individuals more exposed to commerce and whose livelihood depends on it
⏩ More frequent and beneficial exchanges with strangers and increased economic interdependence is a key driver
14/17
1️⃣ A direct channel✅
Adaptation is concentrated in individuals more exposed to commerce and whose livelihood depends on it
⏩ More frequent and beneficial exchanges with strangers and increased economic interdependence is a key driver
14/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
WHY❓Mechanisms:
1️⃣ A direct channel✅
Adaptation is concentrated in individuals more exposed to commerce and whose livelihood depends on it
⏩ More frequent and beneficial exchanges with strangers and increased economic interdependence is a key driver
14/17
1️⃣ A direct channel✅
Adaptation is concentrated in individuals more exposed to commerce and whose livelihood depends on it
⏩ More frequent and beneficial exchanges with strangers and increased economic interdependence is a key driver
14/17
HOW❓
We track domestic migrants and find:
❌ Selective sorting
✅ Adaptation: People moving to more market-integrated areas adapted quickly
⬆️They become more universalistic
⬆️Higher cooperation in the labor force
⬆️More cooperation with non-kin at home
12/17
We track domestic migrants and find:
❌ Selective sorting
✅ Adaptation: People moving to more market-integrated areas adapted quickly
⬆️They become more universalistic
⬆️Higher cooperation in the labor force
⬆️More cooperation with non-kin at home
12/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
HOW❓
We track domestic migrants and find:
❌ Selective sorting
✅ Adaptation: People moving to more market-integrated areas adapted quickly
⬆️They become more universalistic
⬆️Higher cooperation in the labor force
⬆️More cooperation with non-kin at home
12/17
We track domestic migrants and find:
❌ Selective sorting
✅ Adaptation: People moving to more market-integrated areas adapted quickly
⬆️They become more universalistic
⬆️Higher cooperation in the labor force
⬆️More cooperation with non-kin at home
12/17
🧩 Then we ask: Did greater market access lead to more generalized cooperative culture and behavior?
✅ YES ‼️
1️⃣ strengthened generalized cooperative cultural traits
2️⃣ increased impersonal cooperation
3️⃣ reduced kin-based cooperation
11/17
✅ YES ‼️
1️⃣ strengthened generalized cooperative cultural traits
2️⃣ increased impersonal cooperation
3️⃣ reduced kin-based cooperation
11/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
🧩 Then we ask: Did greater market access lead to more generalized cooperative culture and behavior?
✅ YES ‼️
1️⃣ strengthened generalized cooperative cultural traits
2️⃣ increased impersonal cooperation
3️⃣ reduced kin-based cooperation
11/17
✅ YES ‼️
1️⃣ strengthened generalized cooperative cultural traits
2️⃣ increased impersonal cooperation
3️⃣ reduced kin-based cooperation
11/17
Our cultural and behavioral measures are deeply connected. Generalized cooperative culture is associated with:
⬆️ More impersonal cooperative behavior
⬇️ Less kin-based cooperation
10/17
⬆️ More impersonal cooperative behavior
⬇️ Less kin-based cooperation
10/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Our cultural and behavioral measures are deeply connected. Generalized cooperative culture is associated with:
⬆️ More impersonal cooperative behavior
⬇️ Less kin-based cooperation
10/17
⬆️ More impersonal cooperative behavior
⬇️ Less kin-based cooperation
10/17
🧠 We measure generalized cooperative culture focusing on universalism, tolerance, and generalized trust—traits supporting cooperation with strangers, using indicators from Raz (2025) and a novel NLP measure of local historical newspapers
8/17
8/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
🧠 We measure generalized cooperative culture focusing on universalism, tolerance, and generalized trust—traits supporting cooperation with strangers, using indicators from Raz (2025) and a novel NLP measure of local historical newspapers
8/17
8/17
We measure market integration using a county-level “Market Access” following Donaldson & Hornbeck (2016)
📈 Counties saw big, uneven increases in market access over time, driven by the expansion of the railroad network and by population growth 🚂🛤️
7/17
📈 Counties saw big, uneven increases in market access over time, driven by the expansion of the railroad network and by population growth 🚂🛤️
7/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
We measure market integration using a county-level “Market Access” following Donaldson & Hornbeck (2016)
📈 Counties saw big, uneven increases in market access over time, driven by the expansion of the railroad network and by population growth 🚂🛤️
7/17
📈 Counties saw big, uneven increases in market access over time, driven by the expansion of the railroad network and by population growth 🚂🛤️
7/17
🌐Producers shifted from local subsistence to market-oriented production
🗺️ Long-distance trade rapidly expanded
🛒 Household consumption became increasingly reliant on distant sellers
6/17
🗺️ Long-distance trade rapidly expanded
🛒 Household consumption became increasingly reliant on distant sellers
6/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
🌐Producers shifted from local subsistence to market-oriented production
🗺️ Long-distance trade rapidly expanded
🛒 Household consumption became increasingly reliant on distant sellers
6/17
🗺️ Long-distance trade rapidly expanded
🛒 Household consumption became increasingly reliant on distant sellers
6/17
Critics like Marx and Polanyi argued that markets erode morality, commodify social relationships, and foster alienation and exploitation
4/17
4/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Critics like Marx and Polanyi argued that markets erode morality, commodify social relationships, and foster alienation and exploitation
4/17
4/17
Philosophers and social scientists have debated the moral and social implications of markets for centuries, but it remains contested and politicized. Enlightenment thinkers such as Montesquieu and Smith argued that commerce softens manners and reduces prejudice
3/17
3/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Philosophers and social scientists have debated the moral and social implications of markets for centuries, but it remains contested and politicized. Enlightenment thinkers such as Montesquieu and Smith argued that commerce softens manners and reduces prejudice
3/17
3/17
📢 In our 🆕working paper (with @raztzachi.bsky.social
), we show that as markets expanded, Americans became more universalistic, tolerant, trusting, and cooperative
🔗https://dropbox.com/scl/fi/xydg1vid6a8pw8zmvw8yc/Posch_Raz_Markets.pdf?rlkey=4b4qwrdkdv47ri5721mfwy92v&e=1&dl=0
2/17
), we show that as markets expanded, Americans became more universalistic, tolerant, trusting, and cooperative
🔗https://dropbox.com/scl/fi/xydg1vid6a8pw8zmvw8yc/Posch_Raz_Markets.pdf?rlkey=4b4qwrdkdv47ri5721mfwy92v&e=1&dl=0
2/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
📢 In our 🆕working paper (with @raztzachi.bsky.social
), we show that as markets expanded, Americans became more universalistic, tolerant, trusting, and cooperative
🔗https://dropbox.com/scl/fi/xydg1vid6a8pw8zmvw8yc/Posch_Raz_Markets.pdf?rlkey=4b4qwrdkdv47ri5721mfwy92v&e=1&dl=0
2/17
), we show that as markets expanded, Americans became more universalistic, tolerant, trusting, and cooperative
🔗https://dropbox.com/scl/fi/xydg1vid6a8pw8zmvw8yc/Posch_Raz_Markets.pdf?rlkey=4b4qwrdkdv47ri5721mfwy92v&e=1&dl=0
2/17