How do evolutionary theories explain contemporary behavioural patterns and preferences that drive economic behaviour?
Vaios Koliofotis
EIPE Ph.D. Student
A Philosophical Enquiry into the Evolution of Economic Preferences
How do evolutionary theories explain contemporary behavioural patterns and preferences that drive economic behaviour? I will investigate four research questions:
(i) What assumptions and idealizations use models of parental-investment and gene-culture co-evolution in order to analyze post-demographic behaviour (“the demographic - economic paradox”)?
(ii) Does “the demographic - economic paradox” call into question the applicability of experimental economics to explore biological characteristics and relate them to economic behaviour?
(iii). Is it possible to consider humans maximizing inclusive fitness as rational in an economic sense?
(iv). How can we link evolutionary psychology and economic theory by breaking down economic preferences to more primitive cognitive processes such as modular basic emotions?
Supervisor: Prof. Jack Vromen
Email: koliofotis@esphil.eur.nl