Since at least Adam Smith, the common wisdom has been that the transition from hunter-gathering to farming allowed the creation of the State. Farming, so went the theory, led to agricultural surplus, and that surplus is the prerequisite for taxation and a State. But economist Omer Moav of Reichman University argues that it wasn't farming but the farming of a particular kind of crop (but not others) that led to hierarchy and the State. Moav explains to EconTalk host Russ Roberts storability is the key dimension that allows for taxation and a State. The conversation includes a discussion of why it's important to understand the past and the challenges of confirming or refuting theories about history.

https://www.econtalk.org/omer-moav-on-the-emergence-of-the-state/

EconTalk

Omer Moav on the Emergence of the State

Economics podcasts for daily life. Conversations with guests ranging from business owners to Nobel laureates. Hosted by Russ Roberts of the Hoover Institution. Visit our archives to find ALL our past episodes, back to 2006: http://www.econtalk.org/archives.html#date. 