Hayek and the Evolution of Capitalism.
The University of Chicago Press (2018)
Nobel laureate Friedrich August von Hayek is mainly known for his defence of the free market. His use of evolutionary concepts and parallels remains relatively little explored. It is this lacuna that my book seeks to fill. I examine Hayek’s evolutionary claims, in particular his model of cultural group selection, and compare them to past developments (e.g. Darwin) and recent studies on social evolution. My analysis offers a fresh perspective on Hayek’s thought and an evaluation of key theoretical elements that are often overlooked. It will contribute to the ongoing discussion of the relationship between evolution, economics and politics, as well as to the newly revived debate on cultural group selection.