Kurt Dopfer
Encyclopedia
Kurt Dopfer is the Professor at the Department of Economics, University of St. Gallen
, Switzerland, and also the co-director of the Institute for National Economics.
Dopfer is best known for several contributions in evolutionary economics
, such as the axiomatization of evolutionary economic approach (Dopfer, 2001). In his recent publication, Dopfer (2004) argues that a concept of homo oeconomicus has to be replaced by the concept of rule-based agent, homo sapiens oeconomicus.
Dopfer with co-authors (Dopfer, Foster, Potts, 2004) has also espoused the introduction of intermediate level of analysis in economics, apart from micro- (individual) and macro- (aggregate) level. The meso-level is where collective behaviour patterns are established, and where institution
s operate. This level works as an intermediary linking micro-level interactions and macro-level dynamics. Thus, importance of institutions in economic analysis is emphasized.
University of St. Gallen
The University of St. Gallen is a public research university located in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It is specialized in the fields of business administration, economics, law, and international affairs. The University of St. Gallen is also known as HSG, which is an abbreviation of its former German...
, Switzerland, and also the co-director of the Institute for National Economics.
Dopfer is best known for several contributions in evolutionary economics
Evolutionary economics
Evolutionary economics is part of mainstream economics as well as heterodox school of economic thought that is inspired by evolutionary biology...
, such as the axiomatization of evolutionary economic approach (Dopfer, 2001). In his recent publication, Dopfer (2004) argues that a concept of homo oeconomicus has to be replaced by the concept of rule-based agent, homo sapiens oeconomicus.
Dopfer with co-authors (Dopfer, Foster, Potts, 2004) has also espoused the introduction of intermediate level of analysis in economics, apart from micro- (individual) and macro- (aggregate) level. The meso-level is where collective behaviour patterns are established, and where institution
Institution
An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community...
s operate. This level works as an intermediary linking micro-level interactions and macro-level dynamics. Thus, importance of institutions in economic analysis is emphasized.
Publications
- Kurt Dopfer 'Evolutionary Economics: Framework for analysis', in: K. Dopfer, ed. (2001), Evolutionary Economics: Program and Scope, Recent Economic Thought Series, Boston/Dordrecht/London: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 1–44.
- Kurt Dopfer, John Foster, & Jason Potts, 2004. 'Micro-meso-macro,' Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pp. 263–279. (abstract)
- Kurt Dopfer, 2004. 'The economic agent as rule maker and rule user: Homo Sapiens Oeconomicus,' Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 14(2), pp. 177–195.