What is Institutional evolution?

Institutional evolution is when rules and systems that people use to live together slowly change over time, like how a playground changes as more kids play there.

Imagine your favorite playground, it has swings, slides, and maybe even a sandbox. At first, the rules are simple: "No pushing," or "Take turns on the slide." But as more kids come, the rules get updated. Maybe someone adds "You can only use one swing at a time" or "You have to clean up after yourself." These changes happen because people find new ways to play together, that's institutional evolution in action!

Think of a tree growing in your backyard. At first, it’s just a small sapling. Over the years, it grows bigger and taller. It might even get a few branches added by birds making nests. The tree keeps changing as time goes on, that's like institutional evolution too! Just like how a tree adapts to its environment, rules and systems adapt to the people using them.

So whether it’s a playground or a tree, things change because people keep using them in new ways, and that's what makes life interesting!