World Civilization And Economic Growth: History Quiz

1. The world population today is about 7 billion. In which year approximately did it hit 1 billion?

600 BC

476 AD

1475 AD

1810 AD

It took approximately 199,800 years for human populations to reach one billion. Then in just 200 years, it grew by another 6 billion.

Explanation

It took approximately 199,800 years for human populations to reach one billion. Then in just 200 years, it grew by another 6 billion.

2. The distribution of wealth and income tends to be long-tailed. Longtails typically arise out of __________

Complex interconnected systems

Systems where elements interact multiplicatively

Systems where the elements are independent

A and B

Interconnected systems tend to behave non-linearly, often with multiplicative outcomes of interaction. Longtails are the natural fallout of the dynamics of these systems. ‘Normal’ or bell curve distributions, where the elements cluster around a mean or central number, usually arise only when the elements in the system (say people) operate independently of one another.

Explanation

Interconnected systems tend to behave non-linearly, often with multiplicative outcomes of interaction. Longtails are the natural fallout of the dynamics of these systems. ‘Normal’ or bell curve distributions, where the elements cluster around a mean or central number, usually arise only when the elements in the system (say people) operate independently of one another.

3. The distribution of wealth and income in today's world can be best approximated by what 3D shape?

A

B

C

D

The commonly used terminology ‘Base of the Pyramid’ to represent the economic landscape of poverty is highly misleading. A 3D visualization of the distribution of wealth and income looks like B.

Explanation

The commonly used terminology ‘Base of the Pyramid’ to represent the economic landscape of poverty is highly misleading. A 3D visualization of the distribution of wealth and income looks like B.

4. Humans in their current form of homo sapien have existed for ___________

2,000 years

One million years

500 years

200,000 years

Human beings or homo sapiens in our present anatomical form are estimated to have first emerged 200,000 years ago. The most well-dated and earliest fossils of homo sapiens were found near Kibish, Ethiopia.

Explanation

Human beings or homo sapiens in our present anatomical form are estimated to have first emerged 200,000 years ago. The most well-dated and earliest fossils of homo sapiens were found near Kibish, Ethiopia.

5. Electricity as a source of energy has been in use for what % of human existence?

.1%

1.5%

7%

17%

The discovery of electricity and its use as a source of energy to catapult human capability is hardly 200 years old and lies at the inflection point of human history.

Explanation

The discovery of electricity and its use as a source of energy to catapult human capability is hardly 200 years old and lies at the inflection point of human history.

6. The distribution of wealth and income for most countries tend to be described by functions that are:

Binomial

Log normal

Normal

Log normal with power-law tails

Lognormal distributions arise when there is multiplicative interaction of the elements. However, in many countries, the distributions have power-law tails, which tend to show up in the larger interconnected systems and have interesting implications, one of them being the presence of ‘memory’ in the system.

Explanation

Lognormal distributions arise when there is multiplicative interaction of the elements. However, in many countries, the distributions have power-law tails, which tend to show up in the larger interconnected systems and have interesting implications, one of them being the presence of ‘memory’ in the system.

7. GDP per capita per day in Western Europe and the United States in 1820 was approximately (in 1990 US$)

$10

$100

$3

$2000

In 1820 Western Europe and the United States had an annual per capita GDP of approximately $1200, which amounts to ~$3 per day. This is equivalent to that of India and many other developing countries today.

Explanation

In 1820 Western Europe and the United States had an annual per capita GDP of approximately $1200, which amounts to ~$3 per day. This is equivalent to that of India and many other developing countries today.

8. Paper money was invented approximately how many years ago?

200 years

1,200 years

5,000 years

12,000 years

The first known paper banknotes appeared in China 1,200 years ago and were in use for approximately 500 years before 1455 AD when the use of paper money in China disappeared for several hundred years. Paper money did not appear in Europe until the 17th century.

Explanation

The first known paper banknotes appeared in China 1,200 years ago and were in use for approximately 500 years before 1455 AD when the use of paper money in China disappeared for several hundred years. Paper money did not appear in Europe until the 17th century.

9. The trajectory that completes the graph is?

A

B

C

D

Much of the wealth of the world and modern living as we know it has been created in a blink of an eye in human history, and unpredictable trajectory based on the previous thousands of years of human existence. (from historical reconstructions by economist Angus Maddison).

Explanation

Much of the wealth of the world and modern living as we know it has been created in a blink of an eye in human history, and unpredictable trajectory based on the previous thousands of years of human existence. (from historical reconstructions by economist Angus Maddison).

10. Today per capita GDP per day aggregated across the globe is approximate.

$4

$18

$32

$102

When we take world GDP, GDP aggregated across all countries, and divide it by the total population, per capita per day, GDP has grown 10x compared to the best of the world in 1820.

Explanation

When we take world GDP, GDP aggregated across all countries, and divide it by the total population, per capita per day, GDP has grown 10x compared to the best of the world in 1820.