The General Theory of Economic Evolution

The first book to chart the development of the field of evolutionary economics, this book provides an integrated generic framework to define the rules of an economic system; how they are coordinated and the causes and consequences of their change.
Packed with pedagogical features including essay and tutorial questions, case studies and an extensive bibliography, this book:


proposes a new analytic framework for the study of the nature and causes of long run economic growth and development in market systems
analyzes the foundations of the neoclassical tradition, before developing a thesis through micro, meso and macro domains drawing conclusions as to what can be learned from the point of view of policy analysis
focuses on an open-systems analytical framework and successfully formulates and refines the analytical foundations of a new general theory of economic evolution.

This volume is essential reading for scholars and students of economic evolution and as well as for anyone who seeks to better understand the complex evolutionary nature of the structure and dynamics of the knowledge-based economy in today’s society.

1. Analytic Foundations of Evolutionary Economics 1.1 Mechanism and Evolution 1.2 The Three Axioms of Evolutionary Realism 1.3 Evolution in Mind 1.4 Analytical Foundations 1.5 Conclusion 2. Micro Meso Macro Analysis 2.1 Analysis of the Economy as a Whole 2.2 Classical, Neoclassical and Evolutionary Analysis 2.3 The Methodology of Micro Meso Macro 2.4 The Complexity of Micro Meso Macro 2.5 Conclusion 3. Generic Micro Analysis 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Micro Unit 3.3 The Generic Micro Trajectory 3.4 Conclusion 4. Meso Analysis 4.1 Introduction 4.2 A Three-Phase Meso Trajectory 4.3 Aspects of Meso Analysis 4.4 Micro Strategy over a Meso Trajectory 4.5 Conclusion 5. Macro Co-ordination 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Macro Co-ordination 5.3 Co-ordination over a Macro Trajectory 5.4 Co-ordination Failure over a Macro Trajectory 5.5 The Co-evolution of Multiple Meso Trajectories as Clusters 5.6 Conclusion 6. Macro Dynamics, Growth and Development 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Regimes and Regime Transitions 6.3 Macro Co-ordination, Evolution and Self-organization 6.4 Conclusion 7. Generic Policy 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Generic and Operational Policy 7.3 Three Orders of Policy 7.4 Conclusion