Econ Papers Daily / 期刊论文
为何安第斯山脉（未）使用轮子？——解释货车运输缓慢采用的一个假说及来自十九世纪哥伦比亚的证据
Why Was the Wheel (Not) Used in the Andes? A Hypothesis Explaining the Slow Adoption of Wagon Transport and Evidence from Nineteenth-Century Colombia
摘要
The slow adoption of wagon transport in the Andes is a puzzle. We examine it by developing a threshold technology-adoption model calibrated using human and mule energy consumption and unique historical data from a human trail and the first wagon road in the Andes. Model predictions align with historical social choices. Pre-Columbians selected a straight, steep, short route for human porters to reduce energy costs, while the Spanish used it with mule packs. Late nineteenth-century transport demand growth surpassed the model’s threshold and contributed to construction of the zigzagging, gentle, long wagon road route, as well as incentives to build state capacity.
中文摘要
安第斯地区马车运输的缓慢采用是一个谜团。我们通过构建一个阈值技术采纳模型来探究此问题，该模型利用人力和骡马能量消耗数据以及来自安第斯地区一条人行小道和首条马车道路的独特历史数据进行校准。模型预测与历史上的社会选择相吻合。前哥伦布时期的人们选择了一条笔直、陡峭且路程较短的人行路线，以降低人力搬运者的能量成本，而西班牙人则利用此路线进行骡马驮运。19世纪末，运输需求的增长超过了模型的阈值，这不仅促进了蜿蜒平缓的长距离马车道路的建设，也激发了构建国家能力的动力。