Evolutionary Game Theory and Interdisciplinary Integration

Walter Veit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

Abstract: Interdisciplinary research is becoming more and more popular. Many funding bodies encourage interdisciplinarity, as a criterion that promises scientific progress. Traditionally this has been linked to the idea of integrating or unifying disciplines. Using evolutionary game theory as a case study, Till Grüne-Yanoff (2016) argued that there is no such necessary link between interdisciplinary success and integration. Contrary to this, this paper argues that evolutionary game theory is a genuine case of successful integration between economics and biology, shedding lights on the many dimensions along which integration can take place.

Keywords: Interdisciplinarity; integration; evolutionary game theory; biology; economics.