Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/145976 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
Papers on Economics and Evolution No. 1504
Publisher: 
Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Geography, Marburg
Abstract: 
This paper reconsiders the explanation of economic policy from an evolutionary economics perspective. It contrasts the neoclassical equilibrium notions of market and government failure with the dominant evolutionary neo-Schumpeterian and Austrian-Hayekian perceptions. Based on this comparison, the paper criticises the fact that neoclassical failure reasoning still prevails in non-equilibrium evolutionary economics when economic policy issues are examined. This is more than surprising, since proponents of evolutionary economics usually view their approach as incompatible with its neoclassical counterpart. In addition, it is shown that this "fallacy of failure thinking" even finds its continuation in the alternative concept of "system failure" with which some evolutionary economists try to explain and legitimate policy interventions in local, regional or national innovation systems. The paper argues that in order to prevent the otherwise fruitful and more realistic evolutionary approach from undermining its own criticism of neoclassical economics and to create a consistent as well as objective evolutionary policy framework, it is necessary to eliminate the equilibrium spirit. Finally, the paper delivers an alternative evolutionary explanation of economic policy which is able to overcome the theory-immanent contradiction of the hitherto evolutionary view on this subject.
Subjects: 
market failure
system failure
economic policy
policy advice
evolutionary economics
non-equilibrium economics
JEL: 
A11
B41
B52
H00
H53
O30
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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