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Of thoughts and things: how a new model of evolution explains the coevolution of culture and technology

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  • Roger Koppl

    (Syracuse University)

Abstract

I develop a bioeconomic theory of social institutions that helps to explain the coevolution of ideas, social institutions, and technology. The theory is “bioeconomic” because it traces economic institutions to their biological origins and foundations. The theory draws on a new model of evolution that uses the notion of combination to take Darwinism in new directions. I explain this new model and apply it to the problem of coevolution in economics and other social sciences. The new model builds in part on Brian Arthur’s theory of the “combinatorial evolution” of technology and Stuart Kauffman’s theory of the “adjacent possible.” Central to this new model of evolution is a simple combinatorial equation called the “TAP equation,” where “TAP” stands for “theory of the adjacent possible.” The new model is yielding fruit in a variety of fields including economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Roger Koppl, 2025. "Of thoughts and things: how a new model of evolution explains the coevolution of culture and technology," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 215-238, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revepe:v:6:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s43253-024-00141-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s43253-024-00141-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jones Charles I., 2001. "Was an Industrial Revolution Inevitable? Economic Growth Over the Very Long Run," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 1(2), pages 1-45, August.
    2. Arthur, W Brian, 1989. "Competing Technologies, Increasing Returns, and Lock-In by Historical Events," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 99(394), pages 116-131, March.
    3. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti & Roger Koppl & Brian D. Fath & Stuart Kauffman & Wim Hordijk & Robert E. Ulanowicz, 2020. "On the emergence of ecological and economic niches," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 99-127, July.
    4. Abigail Devereaux & Roger Koppl & Stuart Kauffman, 2024. "Creative evolution in economics," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 489-514, April.
    5. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti & Roger Koppl & Brian D. Fath & Stuart Kauffman & Wim Hordijk & Robert E. Ulanowicz, 2020. "Correction to: On the emergence of ecological and economic niches," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 129-130, July.
    6. Wim Hordijk & Stuart Kauffman & Roger Koppl, 2023. "Emergence of autocatalytic sets in a simple model of technological evolution," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 33(5), pages 1519-1535, November.
    7. Arthur, W. Brian, 2007. "The structure of invention," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 274-287, March.
    8. Roger Koppl & Abigail Devereaux & Jim Herriot & Stuart Kauffman, 2018. "A Simple Combinatorial Model of World Economic History," Papers 1811.04502, arXiv.org.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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