On the role of intentionality in evolutionary economic change

One important challenge to evolutionary economics consists of tackling the paradoxical relationship between purposeful human action and the ‘blindness’ of evolutionary processes. We argue that the theoretical treatment of intended action is a prerequisite for venturing beyond the phenomenological explanation of evolutionary processes. If so, evolutionary processes are not (at least completely) ‘blind’. Of course, not every change in a society is a consequence of purposeful action. However, even if not every action were intended and not every novelty were the consequence of pursuing particular goals, the evolution of individual intentions and pursued goals (micro-level) is a key process in explaining economic change. In this context, an evolutionary efficiency criterion is proposed.

► Individuals’ intentions and goals are key processes in explaining economic change. ► Interactive deployment of individual plans is at the base of socioeconomic dynamics. ► Purposeful goals cause new capabilities, patterns of behaviour and learning processes. ► Connections between actions and goals are efficient if they produce the pursued goals. ► Purposeful action and efficiency at the meso introduce ‘directional change’.