Acta Oeconomica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 72: Issue 2
The role of emergence for a complexity approach in economics – A reply to Olivér Kovács
Author:
Jörg J. Dötsch Chair of Economic Policy, Andrássy University Budapest, Pollack Mihály tér 3, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-3813
Pages:
249–269
Online Publication Date:
23 Jun 2022
Publication Date:
23 Jun 2022
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/032.2022.00014
Keywords:
complexity; emergence; economic systems;
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Abstract

This paper provides a theoretical clarification of an important question raised by Olivér Kovács in Acta Oeconomica 69 (4) and points out further problems and possibilities. It clarifies what role considerations of complexity theory have played in the economic sciences so far and why. Focussing on the complementary phenomenon of emergence, the contribution shows where the limits of this approach lie within the discipline and to what extent serious problems of demarcation arise with regard to other disciplines of the social sciences. Accordingly, this paper aims to demonstrate the conditions under which economics can use concepts of emergence in a fruitful way.

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Cover Acta Oeconomica
Acta Oeconomica Periodical of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN:
0001-6373
Online ISSN:
1588-2659

Senior editors

Editors-in-Chief: István P. Székely, Dóra Győrffy

Editor(s): Judit Kálmán

Associate Editors

  • Péter Benczúr, Joint Joint Research Center, European Commission
  • Dóra Benedek, International Monetary Fund
  • Balázs Égert, OECD
  • Dániel Prinz, World Bank
  • Rok Spruk, University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business, Slovenia

Editorial Board

  • Anders Åslund, Georgetown University and Advisory Council of CASE, USA
  • István Benczes, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary 
  • Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
  • Fabrizio Coricelli, University of Siena, Italy
  • László Csaba, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary and Central European University, Austria
  • Beáta Farkas, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Szeged, Hungary
  • Péter Halmai, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and National University of Public Service, Hungary
  • Martin Kahanec, Central European University, Austria
  • Michael Landesmann, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), Austria
  • Péter Mihályi, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
  • Debora Revoltella, European Investment Bank

Corvinus University of Budapest
Department of Economics
Fővám tér 8 Budapest, H-1093, Hungary
E-mail: judit.kalman@uni-corvinus.hu

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Acta Oeconomica
Language English
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Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
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ISSN 0001-6373 (Print)
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