Ekonomia ewolucyjna jako przykład koncepcji teoretycznej z pogranicza paradygmatu zrównoważonego rozwoju

Abstract

The paper discusses evolutionary economics in the context of the paradigm of sustainable development economics. The paradigm – in economics readings referred to as “sustainable development concept” – becomes increasingly significant compared to traditional neo-classical economics. Simultaneously, its holistic approach considering broadly perceived ecological aspects coincides with evolutionism and is linked to economic evolution theory. Comparing both research approaches leads to the conclusion that the paradigm of economics is increasingly complex, that by learning from biological and chemical processes, economic phenomena can be seen as self -supporting, organic social development. The assumptions presented in the paper fulfill the hypothesis included in the title. Evolutionary economics presents some institutional matrices as genotypes that undergo changes with the time passing. These processes are a self -supporting system aimed at equilibrium, but they are also vulnerable to variety of unexpected disruptions and structural changes within the system. It seems, therefore, that sustainable development economics fi ts in with general economic thought as an encompassing process of evolutionary changes. Development is perceived here as a self -supporting sustainable state, and its continuation is contingent upon the system’s integrity in terms of evolution of its elements such as economy, ecology and society. Th e direction of the system’s evolution depends on the way in which ecological and social issues are resolved. However, it is impossible to be fully confident that changes, being a driving force of a new vision of social development – another evolution in global ecosystem – are likely to take place.