title: Many important group-level traits are institutions.
abstract: Smaldino makes a solid contribution to the literature on the evolution of human social organization by pointing out that group-level-traits (GLTs) often emerge from the interactions of group members in such a way that their effects are not easily partitioned into individual selection. However, we argue that he too readily dismisses institutional analysis as a tool for understanding these traits.
authors: Graduate Group in Ecology,University of California,Davis, Davis, CA 95616mrz1@nimbios.orghttp://www.zefferman.com.
authors: Matthew R
authors: MR
authors: Zefferman
authors: Department of Environmental Science and Policy,University of California,Davis, Davis, CA 95616.pjricherson@ucdavis.eduhttp://www.des.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Richerson/Richerson.htm.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Richerson
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D012641:Selection, Genetic