Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/32650 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
Papers on Economics and Evolution No. 0902
Publisher: 
Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
We explore the idea of public policy from the perspective of evolutionary thinking. This involves paying attention to concepts like diversity, population, selection, innovation, coevolution, group selection, path-dependence and lock-in. We critically discuss the notion of evolutionary progress. The relevance of evolutionary dynamics is illustrated for policy and political change, technical change, sustainability transitions and regulation of consumer behaviour. A lack of attention for the development of evolutionary policy criteria and goals is identified and alternative choices are critically evaluated. Finally, evolutionary policy advice is compared with policy advice coming from neoclassical economics, public choice theory and theories of resilience and adaptive management. We argue that evolutionary thinking offers a distinct and useful perspective on public policy design and change.
Subjects: 
Adaptive management
coevolution
escaping lock-in
evolutionary politics
evolutionary progress
innovation policy
optimal diversity
resilience
social-technical transition
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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