The Origin and the Evolution of Firms: Information as a Driving Force

Understanding Firms Through an Evolutionary Lens

Joop A. Roels takes on a deceptively simple question: why do firms exist? His answer reaches far beyond standard microeconomic theory. By connecting thermodynamics, information theory, and evolutionary thinking, The Origin and the Evolution of Firms presents a systems view in which companies are not just contractual structures but dissipative structures that process information and compete for scarce resources.

From the Big Bang to Boardrooms

The book traces a continuous line of evolving information sets from the birth of the universe to today’s markets. Roels extends the tools of non-equilibrium thermodynamics to economic work, suggesting that firms, like living organisms, maintain order by importing energy and exporting entropy. This perspective reframes competition, innovation, and strategic decision-making as information-driven forces.

What the Chapters Explore

• Foundations of laws, theories, and modeling approaches
• Macroscopic and statistical thermodynamics, including entropy and free energy
• A general theory of transformations and economic transactions
• Systems theory of evolution, from prebiotic evolution to competitive dynamics
• The firm as an information-processing system

Who Will Find This Ebook Valuable

Readers with an interest in evolutionary economics, complexity science, strategic management, or the philosophy of science will appreciate Roels’ careful synthesis. The work is scholarly and conceptually dense, rewarding those willing to engage with both thermodynamic principles and economic reasoning. It is particularly relevant for researchers, advanced students, and professionals who want to see beyond static equilibrium models.

A Distinctive Contribution

Rather than presenting a collection of metaphors, Roels aims for a consistent theoretical framework. The result is an original exploration that connects disciplines often kept separate. For Digital Delights customers seeking a rigorous intellectual challenge, this ebook offers a rare opportunity to examine firms through the lens of physical and informational laws.