Cross-cultural correlates of the ownership of private property: a look from another database

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Rudmin, Floyd Webster

Date

1992

Type

journal article

Language

en

Keyword

Cross-Cultural Correlates , Private Property

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

Swanson's (1966) database Simmons’ (1937) of 39 variables coded on 50 cultures was re-examined for cross-cultural correlates of the private ownership of property. Reliability comparisons were made with Murdock’s (1967) Ethnographic Atlas. Eliminated were one of Simmons’ cultures because of duplicated sampling within culture clusters and 7 variables because of doubtful reliability. A conservative analysis (p <.OOO3) showed the social institution of private property to be a positive correlate of (1) social classes, (2) agriculture in grain, (3) supernatural sanctions for morality, (4) primogeniture (5) active ancestral spirits (6) sovereign organization, (7) size of population and a negative correlate of (8) collecting and gathering, (9) outgroup intimacy and (10) hunting. Theories that property is a function of patriarchy were not supported, nor were arguments that property regimes were advanced by exogamy and other intimate interactions with alien people.

Description

Citation

Anthropologica, n.s.:34:1 (1992) p.71

Publisher

University of Ottawa, Research Center for Amerindian Anthropology

License

Journal

Volume

Issue

PubMed ID

External DOI

ISSN

0003-5459

EISSN