Homo Oeconomicus in Ancient Athens: Silver Bonanza and the Choice to Build a Navy

George Tridimas

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Abstract

    In 483/2 BC the ancient Athenians voted to spend the revenue from recently discovered silver deposits to build a navy instead of distributing it as cash transfers to all citizens. The navy was pivotal for victory against the invading Persians and secured the power and wealth of classical Athens. The paper discusses three interrelated issues. (1) The use of the voting mechanism to decide the disposal of the revenue from natural resources. (2) The binary nature of the choice, either transfers or defence but not a combination of the two. (3) An explanation of the vote based on the increase in probability of military victory following an increase in defence spending.
    LanguageEnglish
    Pages435-458
    JournalHomo Oeconomicus
    Volume30
    Issue number4
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

    Fingerprint

    defense spending
    silver
    natural resource
    citizen
    voting
    defence

    Keywords

    • Ancient Athens
    • direct democracy
    • defence
    • cash–benefits
    • economics of conflict
    • triremes

    Cite this

    Tridimas, George. / Homo Oeconomicus in Ancient Athens: Silver Bonanza and the Choice to Build a Navy. In: Homo Oeconomicus. 2013 ; Vol. 30, No. 4. pp. 435-458.
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    Tridimas, G 2013, 'Homo Oeconomicus in Ancient Athens: Silver Bonanza and the Choice to Build a Navy', Homo Oeconomicus, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 435-458.

    Homo Oeconomicus in Ancient Athens: Silver Bonanza and the Choice to Build a Navy. / Tridimas, George.

    In: Homo Oeconomicus, Vol. 30, No. 4, 12.2013, p. 435-458.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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    Tridimas G. Homo Oeconomicus in Ancient Athens: Silver Bonanza and the Choice to Build a Navy. Homo Oeconomicus. 2013 Dec;30(4):435-458.

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