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Pursuing the evolutionary agenda in economics and management research

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  • Sidney G. Winter

Abstract

This essay first reviews what Nelson and Winter were trying to accomplish when they put forward An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change (Belknap Press, Harvard, 1982). It then does a fast-forward to controversies and contributions in the recent past, and speculates on where the intellectual enterprise might be headed from here. The issues involved in the original motivations are definitely alive and well. Aside from the review of the basic issues behind the NW project, an important theme here is that an evolutionary approach to economics entails a degree of engagement with the realities of business organization and the quest for profit that has no parallel in mainstream economics. Thus it makes sense in retrospect that the evolutionary program has proved more influential in other research fields, including strategic management, technology studies and organization theory, than it is in economics proper. Recent controversies underscore the continuing existence of a challenging research agenda featuring the interactions among the dynamic processes at different levels—individuals, firms and market environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Sidney G. Winter, 2017. "Pursuing the evolutionary agenda in economics and management research," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 41(3), pages 721-747.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:41:y:2017:i:3:p:721-747.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/bex009
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    Cited by:

    1. Charis VLADOS & Dimos CHATZINIKOLAOU, 2019. "Challenges of industrial policy to enhance competitiveness," Journal of Economics Library, EconSciences Journals, vol. 6(2), pages 83-96, June.
    2. Guo, Jingjing & Guo, Bin & Zhou, Jianghua & Wu, Xiaobo, 2020. "How does the ambidexterity of technological learning routine affect firm innovation performance within industrial clusters? The moderating effects of knowledge attributes," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Teppo Felin & Todd R. Zenger, 2017. "The Theory-Based View: Economic Actors as Theorists," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(4), pages 258-271, December.
    4. Teppo Felin & Stuart Kauffman, 2023. "Disruptive evolution: harnessing functional excess, experimentation, and science as tool," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 32(6), pages 1372-1392.
    5. Dosi, G. & Virgillito, M.E., 2021. "In order to stand up you must keep cycling: Change and coordination in complex evolving economies," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 353-364.
    6. Yang, Shengxing & Vialle, Pierre & Whalley, Jason, 2025. "Is disruption the second time around easier? The case of Iliad and the Italian telecommunications market," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(8).
    7. Rakas, Marija & Hain, Daniel S., 2019. "The state of innovation system research: What happens beneath the surface?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.

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