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special issue: Consumption, preferences, and the evolutionary agenda

Author

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  • J.S. Metcalfe

    (ESRC Centre for Research on Innovation and Competition, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9QH, UK)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary evolutionary account of preferences, consumption and demand. This is particularly relevant for the study of innovation which offers consumers the opportunity to develop new behaviours. The paper approaches this question in two stages. First it recognises the importance of time as well as income constraints on consumer behaviour. Secondly, it develops a behavioural approach to consumption routines in terms of Herrnstein's concept of meloriation. In this account the focus is upon activities for which commodities and time are inputs and, with innovation, time is rescheduled on many fronts. Consumer learning is related to a replicator dynamic process. It is shown how changes in wages, prices and the time required to consume influence the demand for activities.

Suggested Citation

  • J.S. Metcalfe, 2001. "special issue: Consumption, preferences, and the evolutionary agenda," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 37-58.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:11:y:2001:i:1:p:37-58
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Frolov, Daniil, 2019. "Present and future of evolutionary economics: post-institutionalist’s opinion," MPRA Paper 97659, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Gupta, Abhay, 2006. "Technological Progress on Consumption side: Consolidation and Prevalence of Complements," MPRA Paper 8998, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Nathalie Lazaric & Vanessa Oltra, 2012. "Sustainable Consumption in an Evolutionary Framework: How to Foster Behavioural Change?," Chapters, in: Blandine Laperche & Nadine Levratto & Dimitri Uzunidis (ed.), Crisis, Innovation and Sustainable Development, chapter 3, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. E.M. Akhmetshin & D.K. Dzhavatov & E.A. Sverdlikova & M.S. Sokolov & O.A. Avdeeva & G.P. Yavkin, 2018. "The Influence of Innovation on Social and Economic Development of the Russian Regions," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 2), pages 767-776.
    5. Guna Raj Bhatta, 2014. "Structural Change and Per Capita Income in Nepal: Empirical Evidences," NRB Economic Review, Nepal Rastra Bank, Research Department, vol. 26(2), pages 41-60, October.
    6. Nisticò, Sergio, 2015. "Enjoyment takes time: Some implications for choice theory," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 9, pages 1-40.
    7. Consoli, Davide, 2005. "Technological cooperation and product substitution in UK retail banking: the case of customer services," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 199-215, March.
    8. Patriarca, Fabrizio & Vona, Francesco, 2013. "Structural change and income distribution: An inverted-U relationship," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 1641-1658.
    9. Jun, Bogang & Kim, Tai-Yoo, 2015. "A neo-Schumpeterian perspective on the analytical macroeconomic framework: The expanded reproduction system," Hohenheim Discussion Papers in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 11-2015, University of Hohenheim, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.
    10. João Bernardino & Tanya Araújo, 2013. "On positional consumption and technological innovation: an agent-based model," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 1047-1071, November.
    11. Caravella, Serenella & Crespi, Francesco & Guarascio, Dario & Tubiana, Matteo, 2020. "Competitive strategies, heterogeneous demand sources and firms’ growth trajectories," GLO Discussion Paper Series 442, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    12. Francisco Fatás‐Villafranca & Dulce Saura & Francisco J. Vázquez, 2007. "Emulation, Prevention And Social Interaction In Consumption Dynamics," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 582-608, November.
    13. Cristiano Antonelli, 2006. "Diffusion as a Process of Creative Adoption," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 211-226, March.
    14. Kenza Qaoumi & Pascal Masson & Benoit Weil & Aytunç Ün, 2018. "Testing evolutionary theory of household consumption behavior in the case of novelty - a product characteristics approach," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 437-460, April.
    15. Cecere, Grazia, 2012. "Creative and adaptive responses in technological change," 23rd European Regional ITS Conference, Vienna 2012 60396, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    16. Vanessa OLTRA & Maïder SAINT JEAN, 2009. "Environmental Innovations and Industrial Dynamics (In French)," Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) 2009-22, Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA).
    17. Marco Valente, 2012. "Evolutionary demand: a model for boundedly rational consumers," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 1029-1080, November.
    18. Kristen B. Cooper, 2017. "Consumer well-being in a future of accelerating novelty," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 315-335, April.
    19. Jakob Kapeller & Bernhard Schütz & Stefan Steinerberger, 2013. "The impossibility of rational consumer choice," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 39-60, January.

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