Institutional economics offers one of the more interesting agendas in economics - the economic analysis of the evolution of institutions. This text focuses on three of the approaches which are central to institutional economics: the theory of the firm, with particular emphasis on Oliver Willamson's transaction cost economics; evolutionary economics, taking the work of Nelson and Winter as the benchmark; and game theoretical accounts of the spontaneous evolution of conventions and institutions inspired by Hayek. The analysis shows that attempts to group these approaches under the same broad heading conceals many differences. Not the least of these are the different meanings given to such key concepts as "institution" and "evolution". Despite these differences, the book does identify two evolutionary mechanisms that govern processes of economic change in each of the approaches which is discussed. Drawing on recent work in biology and philosophy of science, the author identifies some unresolved issues in attempts to transfer the concepts of evolutionary biology.

The new institutional economics offers one of the most exciting research agendas in economics today. Yet can it really explain processes of economic change? Economic Evolution explores three of the main approaches within the new institutional economics: the new theory of the firm, Nelson and Winter's evolutionary economics and game theoretic accounts of spontaneous evolution. Close analysis reveals that the approaches differ on such fundamental issues as the meaning of terms like 'institution' and 'evolution'. However, the book also uncovers two evolutionary mechanisms that govern processes of economic change in all of these approaches.

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In recent years there has been an astonishing growth in scholarly work at the intersection of economics, neuroscience, and psychology. As neuroeconomics (as this domain is usually known) continues to blossom, this new title from Routledge's Critical Concepts in the Social Sciences series provides a much-needed compendium of foundational and the very best cutting-edge scholarship. The collection also assembles pioneering manifestos and explicates how-rather than being merely an 'underlabourer' of economics or neuroscience-neuroeconomics is becoming a specialized discipline in its own right with distinct research methods, insights, and results. Neuroeconomics is fully indexed and has a comprehensive introduction, newly written by the editors, which places the collected material in its historical and intellectual context. It is an essential work of reference and is destined to be valued by scholars and students as a vital one-stop research and pedagogic resource.