Which term refers to the application of Darwin's ideas about survival of the fittest to economic competition?

The term that refers to the application of Darwin's ideas about survival of the fittest to economic competition is Social Darwinism. This concept emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was used to justify social policies and economic practices based on the belief that certain individuals or groups were naturally superior to others, both in terms of business acumen and societal status. Proponents of Social Darwinism argued that competition among individuals in society mirrored natural selection, suggesting that the success of the wealthy and powerful was a result of their inherent superiority. This ideology influenced various aspects of American society, including economic practices, imperialism, and policies toward welfare and social reform.

In contrast, the other terms do not specifically capture this economic application of Darwinian thought. Ecological Darwinism, for example, centers on ecological systems and interactions rather than socioeconomic competition, while Competitive Darwinism and Economic survivalism are not widely recognized terms with established definitions linking them directly to this context.