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Emergence and complexity in Austrian economics

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  • Rosser, J. Barkley

Abstract

Emergence is often argued to be a deep property of complex systems, with such systems exhibiting wholes that are in some way greater than the sum of their parts. These ideas have played an important part in discussions of spontaneous order within Austrian economics, particularly by Hayek drawing on arguments dating from Mill and Menger, although with other traditions such as that of Böhm-Bawerk not relying on such ideas. Philosophical discussions of these terms are considered that raise questions about the relationship between the emergent whole and the lower level parts that comprise it. A major issue is the role of these ideas and processes within evolution, with Hayek in particular moving strongly towards identifying their linkage, something advocated by many non-Austrian economists and non-economists as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosser, J. Barkley, 2012. "Emergence and complexity in Austrian economics," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 81(1), pages 122-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:81:y:2012:i:1:p:122-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2011.09.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Shinji Teraji, 2017. "Understanding coevolution of mind and society: institutions-as-rules and institutions-as-equilibria," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 16(1), pages 95-112, November.
    2. J. Barkley Rosser, 2020. "Austrian themes and the Cambridge capital theory controversies," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 415-431, December.
    3. Vicente Moreno-Casas, 2023. "The Harvard-MIT complexity approach to development and Austrian economics: Similarities and policy implications," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 515-539, December.
    4. Cameli, Simone Amato, 2023. "A complexity economics framework for 21st-century industrial policy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 168-178.
    5. Philip Z. Maymin, 2014. "A New Algorithmic Approach to Entangled Political Economy: Insights from the Simplest Models of Complexity," Advances in Austrian Economics, in: Entangled Political Economy, volume 18, pages 213-236, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    6. Vicente Moreno‐Casas & Philipp Bagus, 2022. "Dynamic efficiency and economic complexity," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 115-134, February.
    7. Virgile Chassagnon, 2014. "Toward a Social Ontology of the Firm: Reconstitution, Organizing Entity, Institution, Social Emergence and Power," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(2), pages 197-208, October.
    8. Moreno-Casas, Vicente & Espinosa, Victor I. & Wang, William Hongsong, 2022. "The political economy of complexity: The case of cyber-communism," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 566-580.
    9. Gilles Campagnolo & Gilbert Tosi, 2016. "Organic Views on Institutions: Has Carl Menger Anticipated Complex Adaptive Systems? [La conception organique des institutions de Carl Menger a-t-elle anticipé ce qu’est un système adaptatif comple," Post-Print hal-01446223, HAL.
    10. Victor I. Espinosa & William Hongsong Wang & Jesús Huerta de Soto, 2022. "Principles of Nudging and Boosting: Steering or Empowering Decision-Making for Behavioral Development Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    11. J. Barkley Rosser, 2014. "Natural Selection versus Emergent Self-Organization in Evolutionary Political Economy," Advances in Austrian Economics, in: Entangled Political Economy, volume 18, pages 67-91, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Austrian economics; Complexity; Emergence; Evolution; Nomological supervenience;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B25 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Austrian; Stockholm School
    • C69 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Other

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