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News Release 09-210
"Technology" Plays Large Role in Wealth Inheritance
Researchers ponder whether Internet will produce more financially equal societies
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Research on small scale societies, ranging from egalitarian hunter gatherers to hierarchical farmers and herders in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, concludes that the degree of wealth inequality in a society is based on inheritance. The passing on of material things--such as farms, herds and other real property, or even knowledge, skills and other valuable resources--plays a large role in whether the next generation will accumulate or maintain high wealth status. Here a young Guatemalan woman demonstrates a wealth earning skill weaving textiles.
Credit: ©Estate of Rachel Tanur
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The researchers' findings appear in the October 30 issue of Science magazine.
Credit: Copyright 2009 AAAS
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