Turning Economics into an Evolutionary Science
Veblen, the Selection Metaphor, and Analogical Thinking
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5815510 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christian Cordes (0000-0001-8830-8939, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 135-154 |
| Publication date | 2007-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Economic Issues (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0021-3624 • E-ISSN: 1946-326X |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00213624.2007.11506998 |
| OpenAlex | W2346823207 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 50 |
In his article, Why is not an evolutionary science? Thorstein Veblen says that economics is helplessly behind the times, and unable to handle its subject-matter in a way to entitle it to standing as a (1898b, 403). In addition, he claims that modern are evolutionary sciences (1898b, 403). A way to remedy this problem and to turn into an evolutionary science is to introduce aspects of Darwin's explanatory model of biological evolution to economic theory. However, there are different possibilities how Darwinian concepts can be harnessed to further develop economic theory. This problem has triggered a conceptual-methodological debate in the economic community. This paper discusses several explanatory approaches to economic phenomena the concept of routines, Universal Darwinism, and the continuity hypothesis that rely on concepts borrowed from biology. To emphasize the differences between these avenues, special attention is given to their dealing with the units and processes of selection in biological and economic evolution. Selectionist models analogous to phylogenetic biological evolution are prominent in many works in the field of evolutionary economics. Moreover, the relation of these approaches to Veblen's own notions and demands with regards to the conversion of into an evolutionary science is highlighted. How fruitful is the introduction of explanatory
Evolution theory · Evolutionary Economics · Veblen good · Economic theories and models · Economic Theory and Institutions
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
Studies in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
The Evolution of Institutional Economics
Cultural learning
Social Foundations of Thought and Action
Organizational routines
The Units of Selection
The New Institutional Economics
An evolutionary theory of economic change
The Instinct of Workmanship and the Irksomeness of Labor 1
Why we need a generalized Darwinism, and why generalized Darwinism is not enough
Not By Genes Alone
The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition
Cultural transmission and the evolution of cooperative behavior
The Mystery of the Routine
Economic Evolution
Veblen and darwinism
Veblen's evolutionary programme
An introduction to evolutionary theories in economics
Darwinism in economics
Why is economics not an evolutionary science?1
The Evolution of Conformist Transmission and the Emergence of Between-Group Differences
Thorstein Veblen and the Processes of Institutional Change
The Instinct of Workmanship and the State of the Industrial Arts
Why is Economics not an Evolutionary Science
The Human Adaptation for Culture
The Instinct of Workmanship and the Irksomeness of Labor
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,17 |
| Citation span | 2008 - 2015 (8) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |