Complexity, economics, and public policy

Steven Durlauf

Politics, Philosophy & Economics, 2012, vol. 11, issue 1, 45-75

Abstract: This article considers the implications of complex systems models for the study of economics and the evaluation of public policies. I argue that complexity can enhance current approaches to formal economic analysis, but does so in ways that complement current approaches. I further argue that while complexity can influence how public policy analysis is conducted, it does not delimit the use of consequentialist approaches to policy comparison to the degree initially suggested by Hayek and most recently defended by Gaus.

Keywords: complexity; agent based models; emergence; economics; public policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:pophec:v:11:y:2012:i:1:p:45-75

DOI: 10.1177/1470594X11434625

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