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Creativity, well-being, and economic development: An evolutionary approach

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  • Maurizio Pugno

    (University of Cassino and Southern Lazio)

Abstract

Economic development requires endogenous novelties, according to evolutionary economics. To find the endogenous source of novelties, we focus on the creativity of ordinary people when they forge their life path. We argue that such ‘life creativity’ is endogenous to the economic system because it is a typical capability of human beings, because it is intrinsically motivated, thus directly yielding well-being, and because it can be developed with better economic conditions. The paper first introduces the insights of three pioneers of evolutionary economics; it proceeds by showing the key role of creativity in human evolution; then it proposes ‘creative activity’ as an input-output technology that is both useful for and conditioned by economic development. It concludes by contrasting the Industrial Revolution in Britain with the ICT revolution in the US for their different effects of successful innovations on life creativity and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Maurizio Pugno, 2024. "Creativity, well-being, and economic development: An evolutionary approach," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 205-225, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:34:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s00191-024-00858-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-024-00858-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Pier Luigi Sacco & Piotr Bialowolski & Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska, 2025. "Culture and creativity, skills building, and growth: what have we missed?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Novelty; Creativity; Well-being; Economic development; Evolutionary economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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