Title: An evolutionary model of science policy: routines and the growth of knowledge in policy-making organisations

Authors: Maureen McKelvey; Rögnvaldur J. Saemundsson

Addresses: Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Department of Economy and Society, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden ' Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Department of Economy and Society, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Innovation Management Department, Halmstad University, Sweden; Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Iceland, Iceland

Abstract: This paper proposes an evolutionary model of science policy. The paper draws upon evolutionary economics and associated applications to theory of the firm on routines and the role of knowledge in decision-making. This strand of literature is called the growth of knowledge perspective, because routines are assumed to embody useful knowledge about problems to be solved and potential solutions to them. This paper develops a conceptual model, based upon this literature and Campbell's evolutionary epistemology. The paper proposes that the equivalent of firm routines is, in the science policy context, public policy alternatives such as policy instruments. Moreover, the paper develops notions of science policy fields, and puts them in an evolutionary model in order to understand the creation of variety, retention and selection amongst policy alternatives.

Keywords: organisational evolution; evolutionary models; science policy; growth of knowledge; organisational routines; policy-making organisations; public policy; policy-making; evolutionary epistemology; variety; selection; retention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2017.087514

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2017 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.298 - 311

Received: 01 Dec 2016
Accepted: 09 Apr 2017
Published online: 16 Oct 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article