参加网络经济学课程学习的同学请注意

1、.：.；参与网络经济学课程学习的同窗请留意，我们如今把何梦笔教授的网络经济学引见转给他们。里面既有他想象的学习方法的表达，也有参与这门课程的同窗必需回答的问题，也有参与学习的人在网上需求找到的阅读资料。请按照何梦笔教授在他的引见中的要求去做，否那么能够会影响到学习效果。Introduction Into Evolutionary EconomicsTeacher: Prof. Dr. Carsten Herrmann-Pillath, Witten/Herdecke University, GermanyIn a non-technical fashion, the course offers

2、 an introduction into the newly emerging field of Evolutionary Economics. Basic concepts and methodological premises are developed, following an independent approach which is closely related to European intellectual traditions in economics (e.g. institutional economics, theory of order, regulation t

3、heory, Schumpeterian economics, Austrian School etc.). Teaching methodology is “erotetic, based on the Socratian approach to gain new knowledge via posing questions and conducting an open and equal dialogue between student and teacher. The class presupposes prior independent study by the students, t

4、he underlying material of which is offered via the website HYPERLINK . Students are asked to prepare their answers to the questions by exploiting this material, however they are free to include independent research and viewpoints. The website contains numerous links to other resources that can be us

5、ed for this purpose. In particular, they are strongly encouraged to find their own solutions and to develop their independent opinion. In the classroom, the teacher actively participates in the free discussion among the students and provides additional information and perspectives.The class is concl

6、uded with a written examination where one out of two questions for choice has to be discussed. Original and critical thought is especially praised, with less emphasis on “right or “wrong.Languages used in the classroom are English and Chinese. The written examination is in Chinese (clearly written).

7、Session One: First Steps Toward a New View of Economics: Knowledge and Networks1-1. What are the costs of the entrepreneur? Are they included in the data from the accounting department? 1-2. People often decide with incomplete information and even total ignorance about the future. Do you think that

8、they can apply some optimization calculus about the necessary investment into the collection of information? What are the alternatives? Imagine yourself buying a new computer with cutting edge equipment. How do you find the best buy? When do you stop searching for further market intelligence?1-3. Ho

9、w would you define knowledge“? Is there always a subject who “knows the knowledge? Consider some social rules the function of which might differ from the meaning that is assigned to the rules by the participant subjects. Draw a comparison with the “knowledge that is embodied in your genes.1-4. What

10、is the difference between the following two views of the market? a) The market is the place where supply and demand meet and are equilibrated via the price mechanism, and b) the market is a complex social network where subjects communicate and process information to find opportunities for mutually b

11、eneficial bargains. Try to define a network of relations between actors and compare your concept with standard descriptions of markets in a microeconomics textbook.1-5. In what way do structures of networks constitute power of an actor? What does power mean in the economic context? In the context of

12、 competition, power is often perceived as being detrimental to the emergence of socially optimal outcomes. However, how about the role of power for stabilizing structures of networks that coordinate market transactions?Session Two: Ends and Means in an Evolutionary Context2-1. Many economists think

13、that preferences are given and do not need to be explained. People are presumed to find an equilibrium of their conflicting wants such that they are fully satisfied with their realized state of consumption. Yet, try to understand consumption and preferences with a view on then existence of internal

14、conflicts, for example, between the wish to have a beautiful body and the drive to eat a lot of delicious things, or between short-term interests in leisure and long-term interests in professional success. How can we explain the different kinds of preferences, and how can we understand the way of so

15、lving the conflicts? Is the equilibrium concept really sensible here?2-2. Do you think that it makes a difference whether people try to maximize their perceived level of material welfare or whether they try to maximize their relative position to other people? What is the implication for social coope

16、ration and social order? Try to find some arguments why the maximization of relative status might be engrained in our genes as a result of natural evolution. What kind of evidence do you find in everyday life?2-3. Economists mostly think of people being led by self-interest and rational choice. In r

17、eality, there is much room for symphathy, love and hatred and other emotions. Think of problems of strategic interaction where “irrational behavior may lead toward optimal outcomes! Strategic interaction involves complex issues of mutual information about the knowledge of the different actors involv

18、ed. How can emotional commitment help to overcome obstacles against a solution to the problem to understand and anticipate the others action?2-4. One of the main achievements of human history is the capability to create large organizations. Consider different explanations of the emergence of the org

19、anization in a market context. To which extent can we explain the organization as a result of explicit human design? Can we think of goals of the organization which are partly autonomous from the goals of the individual members? Session Three:Patterns of Process and Change3-1. Think about time. In m

20、ost scientific analyses, time is treated as a linear arrow between past and future. How far can we say that time has also a structure? Imagine production as a chain of elementary processes which cannot be further subdivided in time. In what way are simultaneous events a crucial determinant of the sp

21、ecific outcome? How is coordination of different processes in time possible? Think of economic development as an increasing complexity of structures of time!3-2. How does the past determine the present? Take technology as an example, as, for instance, the automobile. How far are current technologica

22、l choices restrained by past events in technology evolution? Try to understand technology as a network, both on the material and the social level. How do network structures channel further technological change?3-3. A fundamental concept of any evolutionary explanation is the mechanism of variation,

23、selection and retention. Imagine the market process and try to depict it as a VSR-mechanism. Could you think of technology evolving via VSR-processes? How is planned construction related to evolution? What is the role played by limited knowledge about complex systems? Pay special attention to the so

24、urces of variety and to the mechanisms of retention. Consider what happens if the mechanisms of retention are themselves the object of a VSR-process.3-4. We can say that an economic system maintains a state of order as compared to its environment. For this, the system needs energy. Try to apply the

25、laws of thermodynamics on this. How far can we can go in reaching certain conclusions for energy policy? For example, should we try to minimize energy throughput as far as possible, even if market prices suggest otherwise? Should the government pursue an explicit policy to save resources? Or, will t

26、he market regulate the proper preparation for future needs?Session Four:Evolution of Structure4-1. How can we distinguish between different levels of evolution? What is the relation between units of selection and complexity of VSR-mechanisms? Consider the effect of a self-referential VSR-process. Ap

27、ply these theoretical distinctions on human social organization and cooperation. For example, consider cooperation among villagers who collectively organize an irrigation system, and who stay in a competitive relation with a neighbouring nomadic tribe who might try to live parasitically on the villa

28、ge by means of regular raids. How far can we go with an individualistic explanation of observed patterns, and do we need a concept of group selection?4-2. Analyze the different functions of institutions in the economy. How far can we explain these as a result of rational choice among a larger group

29、of actors? Discuss the relation between “evolution and “revolution in institutional change, taking Chinas recent history as an example. 4-3. Consider market institutions that cope with the problem of quality uncertainty. How can they emerge spontaneously out of the market process? To which extent is

30、 a powerful intervention needed to create and stabilize such institutions?4-4. Is there a relation between technology and institutions? Broaden your view on organizations. How far is technology evolution determined by internal factors, how far by external factors, i.e. referring to the institutional

31、 and organizational environment? Is there an interactive relation, with technology also determining the evolution of institutions and organizations? 4-5. Analyse the different kinds of knowledge involved in technology evolution. Test your result by means of applying it on the question how users infl

32、uence technology evolution.Session Five:Emergence of Order5-1. Many people think that culture is an important determinant of economic development. How can culture be fit into an evolutionary approach? How do you think about recent fears about a “clash between civilizations? Try to distinguish between negative and positive economic effects of cultural distinctiveness among groups an