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The Complementary Relationship Between Institutional and Complexity Economics: The Example of Deep Mechanismic Explanations

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  • Claudius Gräbner

Abstract

Analyzing economic systems from an evolutionary-institutional or a complexity perspective are two complementary approaches to economic inquiry. I discuss three arguments in favor of this hypothesis: (i) eminent institutional economists have examined the economy as what today could be considered a complex system; (ii) complexity economists lack meta-theoretical foundations which could be provided by institutionalist theory; and (iii) institutional economists could benefit from using methods of complexity economics. In this context, I argue that scholars considering the economy to be complex should seek to explain it by discovering social mechanisms instead of focusing on prediction. In order to distinguish between alternative explanations, scholars should refer to the deepness of an explanation, rather than to Occam’s razor.

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  • Claudius Gräbner, 2017. "The Complementary Relationship Between Institutional and Complexity Economics: The Example of Deep Mechanismic Explanations," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(2), pages 392-400, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:mes:jeciss:v:51:y:2017:i:2:p:392-400
    DOI: 10.1080/00213624.2017.1320915
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    8. Wolfram Elsner, 2012. "The Theory of Institutional Change Revisited: The Institutional Dichotomy, Its Dynamic, and Its Policy Implications in a More Formal Analysis," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(1), pages 1-44.
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    Cited by:

    1. Karla Zimpel-Leal & Fiona Lettice, 2021. "Generative Mechanisms for Scientific Knowledge Transfer in the Food Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Wieliczko, Barbara, 2020. "Suitability of Complexity Economics for Long-Term Agricultural Policy-Making," Problems of Agricultural Economics / Zagadnienia Ekonomiki Rolnej 311259, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics - National Research Institute (IAFE-NRI).
    3. Steve J. Bickley & Benno Torgler, 2021. "Behavioural Economics, What Have we Missed? Exploring “Classical” Behavioural Economics Roots in AI, Cognitive Psychology, and Complexity Theory," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-21, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    4. Steve J. Bickley & Alison Macintyre & Benno Torgler, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Sustainable Entrepreneurship," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-11, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • B25 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Austrian; Stockholm School
    • B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;

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