Thomas E. Currie, Peter Turchin, Jenna Bednar, Peter J. Richerson, Georg Schwesinger, Sven Steinmo, Romain Wacziarg, and John J. Wallis
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780262035385
- eISBN:
- 9780262337717
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262035385.003.0012
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, History of Economic Thought
Some economists argue that institutions are the most important factor affecting variation in economic growth. We need, however, to better understand how and why institutions emerge and change. This ...
More
Some economists argue that institutions are the most important factor affecting variation in economic growth. We need, however, to better understand how and why institutions emerge and change. This chapter develops a conceptual framework, informed by evolutionary theory and complexity science, that follows models of cultural evolution in viewing institutions as part of a nongenetic system of inheritance. This framework is used to examine how broad historical factors (not just economic factors) influence present-day institutional arrangements and economic outcomes, as well as how noninstitutional aspects of culture (e.g., values, beliefs) interact with institutions to shape behavior in particular contexts. Overall, this framework emphasizes the processes by which institutions evolve, and how they can coevolve with other institutions and culture. This approach is illustrated using four examples to demonstrate how evolution theory and complexity science can be used to study institutional emergence and change. Explicit models of the processes of institutional evolution need to be developed and then tested and assessed with data. This framework holds promise to bring together and synthesize the findings and insights from a range of different disciplines.Less
Some economists argue that institutions are the most important factor affecting variation in economic growth. We need, however, to better understand how and why institutions emerge and change. This chapter develops a conceptual framework, informed by evolutionary theory and complexity science, that follows models of cultural evolution in viewing institutions as part of a nongenetic system of inheritance. This framework is used to examine how broad historical factors (not just economic factors) influence present-day institutional arrangements and economic outcomes, as well as how noninstitutional aspects of culture (e.g., values, beliefs) interact with institutions to shape behavior in particular contexts. Overall, this framework emphasizes the processes by which institutions evolve, and how they can coevolve with other institutions and culture. This approach is illustrated using four examples to demonstrate how evolution theory and complexity science can be used to study institutional emergence and change. Explicit models of the processes of institutional evolution need to be developed and then tested and assessed with data. This framework holds promise to bring together and synthesize the findings and insights from a range of different disciplines.
John F. Padgett
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780262035385
- eISBN:
- 9780262337717
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262035385.003.0011
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, History of Economic Thought
To blend evolutionary theory with complexity theory,this chapter uses Padgett and Powell’s. The Emergence of Organizations and Markets to review the evolability of organizations and institutions. ...
More
To blend evolutionary theory with complexity theory,this chapter uses Padgett and Powell’s. The Emergence of Organizations and Markets to review the evolability of organizations and institutions. There “evolutionary theory” means “autocatalysis,” and “complexity theory” means “dynamic multiple networks in regulatory feedback.” Together (but not separately), these two theoretical building blocks can explain the sudden emergence or invention of novel forms of organizations not previously observed in history. This chapter draws on an empirical case study from the book, the emergence of international finance in medieval Tuscany, to illustrate the theory.Less
To blend evolutionary theory with complexity theory,this chapter uses Padgett and Powell’s. The Emergence of Organizations and Markets to review the evolability of organizations and institutions. There “evolutionary theory” means “autocatalysis,” and “complexity theory” means “dynamic multiple networks in regulatory feedback.” Together (but not separately), these two theoretical building blocks can explain the sudden emergence or invention of novel forms of organizations not previously observed in history. This chapter draws on an empirical case study from the book, the emergence of international finance in medieval Tuscany, to illustrate the theory.
