Evolution and Complexity in Economics Revisited

The paper discusses recent trends in the sister sciences of evolutionary economics andcomplexity economics. It suggests that a unifying approach that marries the two strands isneeded when reconstructing economics as a science capable of tackling the two key questions ofthe discipline: complex economic structure and evolutionary economic change. Physics, biologyand the cultural sciences are investigated in terms of their usefulness as both paradigmaticorientation and as toolbox. The micro–meso–macro architecture delineated puts meso centrestage, highlighting its significance as structure component and as process component alike,thereby allowing us to handle the key issues of structure and change.