Agency, institutions, and Darwinism in evolutionary economic geography

Abstract

The article by Danny MacKinnon, Andrew Cumbers, Andy Pike, Kean Birch, and Robert McMaster continues the dialogue on evolutionary ideas within economic geography. In response, I argue that the word “evolution” has a variety of meanings and that more precision is required. This commentary also addresses the possibility of generalizing Darwinian principles to evolving social phenomena. It upholds that institutions and power fit into this Darwinian framework and that it does not undermine the importance of agency, deliberation, or choice. A word such as “determinism” should also be used more carefully, as it has multiple meanings.