Natural selection

A new study* to be published next week has found a correlation between the birthrate of males and the economy – at least in East Germany, in 1991. A similar phenomenon is witnessed in the populations of herd animals in times of drought or famine. Now, although the authors of the study cautioned against generalizing the findings, does this mean that humans are herd animals? The short answer is yes.

For proof that humans are indeed herd animals one has to look no further than certain economic indicators that may, if this theory holds true, actually contribute to a lower male birth rate – the economy. Or parts of it anyway. Stock markets are excellent, and oft overused, examples of herd instinct in humans. As a stock market starts to show signs of trouble, large investors begin to move off. They are the lead animals of the herd, and the rest of the herd turns and runs behind them, leaving the weak to parish.

Another prime example of people as herd animals is Tokyo, and in particular the shopping districts. Fashion, the coloration of the human herd, is nowhere more evident than, say, Shinjuku. It is easy to spot members of the various herds, but for now we’ll focus on one particular herd, the Louis Vuitton herd. This is perhaps the most populous of the Tokyo herds (a recent census** concluded an approximate 20% of humans in Shinjuku are members of the LV herd), and easily identifiable by the brown, gold-lettered Louis Vuitton bags they carry prominently around.

Being populous and highly visible makes it easy to track this herd as the members go about their Shinjuku boutique grazing. Anecdotal to the study on male birth numbers, the number of male members of the LV herd is significantly lower than the number of females. Given Japan’s prolonged economic problems, this is probably not surprising to researchers. Even superficial observation of the LV herd will reveal much of the behavior normally associated with herd animals. First, they tend to clump together in groups as they travel, particularly when there is danger of being approached by the ever-present Shinjuku Tout Hyenas. Another noticeable thing about the LV herd is that, through natural selection, they begin to assume other similarities in appearance. As the herd leaders establish preferred boutique grazing grounds, the smaller groups within the herd begin to follow suit, thus altering the outward appearance of the herd members and reducing the variations found within the group.

So, what does all of this prove? Admittedly, very little.

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* Ralph Catalano, in the journal Human Reproduction
**conducted by a guy sitting outside the station, counting the number of bag bearers that passed by in a 20 minute span.