Darwinism in Economics and the Evolutionary Theory of Policy-Making

Christian Schubert

Papers on Economics and Evolution from Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography

Abstract: According to the advocates of a "Generalized Darwinism" (GD), the three Darwinian principles of variation, selection and retention can and should be used as a meta-theoretical framework for the explanation of evolutionary processes in the socio¬cultural domain. Despite their biological origins, GD aims at redefining them in a way that is supposed to abstract from any domain-specific particulars. We argue that in order to qualify as an adequate meta-theoretical framework for evolutionary economics, GD should be able to support and inspire viable practical policy implications. After examining its potential to do so, however, we conclude that GD risks systematically misguiding evolutionary policy advice.

Keywords: Evolution; Selection; Darwinism; Ontology; Continuity Hypothesis; Evolutionary Theory of Policy-Making Length 44 pages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A1 B4 B52 D6 O1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-hpe and nep-mic
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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