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A Present Appreciation of Evolutionary Economics — A Historical Characterization of the Alternative Thoughts of Economics in the Light of Evolutionism

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Abstract

This paper discusses the historical relationship between evolutionary economics and mainstream economics. In the opening article of the first issue of the Evolutionary and Institutional Economic Review, Shiozawa makes clear the different purpose and features of the Japan Association for Evolutionary Economics (JAFEE) from mainstream economics. However, the historical relationship between the two types of economics has not necessarily been contradictory. Rather, we can state that evolutionary economics has, at least in some parts, developed as approaches of mainstream economists to history. In this paper, we consider the history of economics from the viewpoint of evolutionary relationship between the two types of economics and discuss the possibility of evolutionary economics. It will make the feature of evolutionary economics clear. In particular, the treatment of the time scale in evolutionary economics is largely different from that in mainstream economics. Moreover, this paper points out a problem in the present situation of JAFEE in comparison to mainstream economics. This paper suggests what kinds of contribution evolutionary economics can make.

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  1. Otaru University of Commerce, 3-5-21 Midori, Otaru, Hokkaido, 047-0011, Japan

    Susumu Egashira

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  1. Susumu Egashira
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Correspondence to Susumu Egashira.

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Egashira, S. A Present Appreciation of Evolutionary Economics — A Historical Characterization of the Alternative Thoughts of Economics in the Light of Evolutionism. Evolut Inst Econ Rev 3, 47–69 (2006). https://doi.org/10.14441/eier.3.47

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