Gregor Mendel and endogenous growth theory

[ChinoCoug]

(Warning: Grapevine tone).

According classical growth theory, technological innovation is independent of economic forces. A new scientific discovery made in isolation spurs technological advancement and consequently economic growth.

But reality is different. Recently, I've been studying Gregor Mendel. Myth has it that the father of modern genetics was a monk mixing peas outside his monastery in isolation, when in fact there was burgeoning trade in the Austro-Hungarian empire that led everyone to mix better peas for sale. Technological innovation is endogenous to, not exogenous from, incentives.

[MikeWaters]

What is your point? Mendel is not known for "mixing peas." He is known for his observations and inferences on the breeding of peas.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

What is your point? Mendel is not known for "mixing peas." He is known for his observations and inferences on the breeding of peas.

"Mixing peas" is merely crude colloquial-speak, don't take it too literally.

My point is his discoveries arose from economic incentives.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

"Mixing peas" is merely crude colloquial-speak, don't take it too literally.

My point is his discoveries arose from economic incentives.

Isn't this merely a correlation? Why couldn't it be both?

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by creekster

Isn't this merely a correlation? Why couldn't it be both?

So you're saying Mendel's discoveries spurred the trade that was going on in the Austro-Hungarian empire?

[creekster]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

So you're saying Mendel's discoveries spurred the trade that was going on in the Austro-Hungarian empire?

Yes. exactly. You sure hit that nail on the head.


If technological innovations occur without respect to ecnomic incentives then does the fact that Mendel's innovations took place amidst commerce show causation?

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by creekster

Yes. exactly. You sure hit that nail on the head.

If technological innovations occur without respect to ecnomic incentives then does the fact that Mendel's innovations took place amidst commerce show causation?

Mendel's findings weren't popularized until after he died.

The causal mechanism is simple: Burgeoning commerce led everyone to mix better peas for sale. Mendel got in on the bandwagon, then discovered the concept of dominant/recessive genes while mixing peas.

He wasn't mixing peas for fun.

[MikeWaters]

This is my 2nd nomination for dumbest thread of the year.

[wuapinmon]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

Mendel's findings weren't popularized until after he died.

The causal mechanism is simple: Burgeoning commerce led everyone to mix better peas for sale. Mendel got in on the bandwagon, then discovered the concept of dominant/recessive genes while mixing peas.

He wasn't mixing peas for fun.

Where's the proof behind his motivation? Your hunch, or is there some evidence from him or a contemporary about his motives?

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by wuapinmon

Where's the proof behind his motivation? Your hunch, or is there some evidence from him or a contemporary about his motives?

Actually, he was recruited by a society dedicated to mixing better peas.

It has generally been written that Mendel was this monk working in this monastery often in the Chez Republic, at that point in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and he was isolated, working by himself, and it was amazing he discovered all this stuff. It's nonsense. Mendel working on genetics was no accident. ...It became economically sensible to invest your efforts in producing a better crop because you could sell it to more people because unified markets and transportation systems were developing across Europe. And, therefore, economic forces began to work toward getting a hold on the understanding of how you could do better breeding.

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Biology/7-...il/embed06.htm

When I read this I thought, "totally new growth theory."