Evolutionary Economic Geography

Abstract

Evolutionary economic geography has recently emerged as an alternative approach to explaining the dynamics of uneven spatial development. The concept draws heavily on Charles Darwin's theory of the evolution of species, focusing on evolutionary principles of variety creation, selection between varieties, and retention of the selected varieties in the emergence and development of populations. Mainly based on understanding micro processes, evolutionary economic geography targets the dynamics at the meso level of sectors and regions. There is an ongoing debate in economic geography as well as the social sciences in general about the use of Darwin's concept and the implications of its further development in economic geography. The evolution of technologies and industries in regions is differentiated from the evolution of regions, each referring to different interpretations of Darwin's theory. The role of agency, institutions, and political economy in evolution also has to be clarified. To put it in a nutshell, evolutionary economic geography is still a young, ambiguous, and vigorously debated research field.