Introduction: co-evolution and complex adaptive systems in evolutionary economics

Abstract

The theme of the 14th International Joseph A. Schumpeter Conference, held from July 2nd–5th 2012, was “the evolution of economic systems, through innovation, entrepreneurship and competitive processes.” This was intended to be broad enough to encompass a wide range of submitted papers in evolutionary economics and related areas. However, perhaps more than in previous conferences, there was a focus upon viewing economic evolution from the perspective of complex systems science, suitably defined for application in economic contexts. This reflected the ongoing interest in complex economic systems that had existed at the University of Queensland for two decades. Some will remember the first ‘Brisbane Club’ international workshop on this perspective on evolutionary economics at UQ in 1999 and the resultant volume edited by Foster and Metcalfe in 2001. Although having the Schumpeter Conference in Brisbane was viewed by many of us as a fitting conclusion to the Brisbane Club series of meeting ..