Evolutionary Economics and the Theory of Cultural Evolution

“Evolutionary economics” is a heterogeneous field of economic research that still lacks a coherent theoretical foundation. Some contributions dealing with social behavior in economic interactions adopt a Darwinian perspective. These works have partly emerged from direct cooperation with evolutionary anthropologists. They connect to corresponding topics on the agenda of cultural evolution theory. However, most of the works in the field use the attribute “evolutionary” in a rather unspecific way. They inquire into the dynamics of market competition, technological progress, and economic growth. Often, but not always, the rationale for the label “evolutionary” are loose analogies to selection processes in nature. These contributions have not taken much notice of cultural evolution theory and vice versa. Yet they may have something to offer in a dialogue with cultural evolution theory when it comes to explaining the rapid transformations of human societies in present times. The empirical studies and empirical generalizations on innovative adaptation process and the corresponding diffusion dynamics in economy can serve as a repository of hypotheses and methodology. The present paper therefore briefly outlines core research topics, concepts, and tools in evolutionary economics. The discussion then turns to a question that needs being clarified in a dialogue with cultural evolution theory. What role does human agency – traditionally center stage in economic explanations of adaptation processes – play for understanding the evolution of modern economies?