Why do people believe in a zero-sum economy?

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Behavioral Economics
• Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

• Societal zero-sum thinking and aversion to trade are prevalent despite contradicting economic principles.
• Boyer & Petersen's evolutionary model attributes these intuitions to coalitional psychology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically challenge Boyer & Petersen's coalitional psychology explanation for zero-sum thinking.
• To propose and explore alternative mechanisms driving these economic intuitions.

Main Methods:

• Empirical investigation of cognitive biases related to economic decision-making.
• Analysis of intuitive mercantilism and perspective-taking errors as alternative explanations.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests limitations in the coalitional psychology model.
• Findings support intuitive mercantilism and perspective-taking errors as significant factors.

Conclusions:

• The evolutionary model's explanation for zero-sum thinking requires revision.
• Intuitive mercantilism and perspective-taking errors offer more robust explanations for economic intuitions.