Theoretical And Empirical Study On Evolution Of Industrial Organization

Based on the methodology of evolutionary economics and the assumption of uncertainty and boundary rationality, this thesis tries to give an explanation of evolutions of industrial organization (EIO). At the same time, this thesis simulates the stochastic process of industrial dynamics by modifying a baseline model of industrial evolution which was given by Winter et al. in 2003, in order to deeply expound the questions of EIO.It changed a lot from static study to dynamic study of industrial organization (IO). More and more evolutionary thinking enters into IO study. Analyzing Nelson and Winter's evolutionary economics, it can be found that many theories of them relate with IO theory, such as evolution of economic structure and firms' behavior and so on. So another way to study IO theory should be attented. In fact, some domestic economists pay more attention to the dynamic study of IO. They analyze the evolutionary process of IO in different ways and give a lot of constructive advice. However, there is not an integrated theory framework to explain the characters and laws of EIO.First of all, the research tries to combine the study of IO theory with the study of evolutionary economics through the methodology of evolutionary economics. By deeply analyzing the evolutionary thinking of Veblen, Alchian, Nelson and Winter et al., this thesis finds the bonding point: (a) The idea that history matters in EIO analysis, that is the idea of path dependency, (b) A Darwinian conception of EIO, (c) Stochastic process of EIO, (d) Relations between individual (one firm) and population (many firms) in the process of EIO, and (e) Studying EIO in an opening system. These five points just give the direction and contents to study EIO. This new viewpoint establishes the theory basis of the research and also is one of the innovations of the thesis.