Reductionism or misinterpretation? Neo-Schumpeterian endogenous growth models versus Schumpeter[Réductionnisme ou mésinterprétation ? Les modèles néo-schumpétériens de croissance Endogène face à Schumpeter]

This article critically examines the so-called "Schumpeterian" models of endogenous growth by juxtaposing their "spontaneous history" with a thorough analysis of Joseph A. Schumpeter's original work. Through a comparative approach, it demonstrates that these models, despite using concepts like creative destruction and monopolistic competition, rest on a misinterpretation of Schumpeter's writings. Unlike the models' quantitative focus on growth, Schumpeter emphasized capitalist dynamics as a qualitative process and a holistic phenomenon. The article underscores the limitations of "Schumpeterian" models, which often reduce his nuanced ideas to oversimplified, formalized frameworks. In doing so, it contributes to a broader understanding of the evolution and historical development of these models within the field of endogenous growth theory.