Reviewing recent literature in economics and suggesting extensions to the world of politics, the article demonstrates that increasing returns processes are likely to be prevalent, and that good analytical foundations exist for exploring their causes and consequences. Path dependence, the tendency of institutions or technologies to become committed to develop in certain ways as a result of their structural properties or their beliefs and values as a theory, path dependence is based on the straightforward assumption that history matters. Path dependence in social and psychological risk factors. Recently, several historical sociologists have argued that the study of. Path dependence in historical sociology northwestern. Path dependence in historical sociology request pdf. They are the focal point of the activity of public policies, in the sense that institutions contribute to structuring. Technological trajectories and path dependence semantic. The study of path dependence has become a central research area in the disciplines of sociology and political science. Originally formulated for use in economics, the concept of path dependence now appears with increasing frequency in other social sciences, notably historical sociology and political science. The idea of path dependency is chiefly relevant in application to particular events and happenings. Historical context and path dependence oxford handbooks. While arguments about the historical origins of presentday political institutions have deep roots in the social sciences, from the work of gerschenkron 1962, moore 1966, and lipset and rokkan 1967 to stinchcombes 1968 writings on historical causes, the specific concept of path dependence is a more recent innovation. Recent methodological work in comparative politics and sociology has adapted the concept of path dependence into analyses of political and social phenomena.
We adopt a notion of path dependence that subdivides sequences of events into selfreinforcing and reactive sequences. Path dependence is often used in studies based on the historical institutionalist approach to political science, which focuses on how institutions come to constrain organizational life. Drawing on concrete examples of rule of law and property rights reforms, we argue that path dependence theory can shed some light on past failures and provide guidance for future reforms. Reviewing recent literature in economics and suggesting extensions to the world of politics, the article demonstrates that increasing returns processes are likely to be prevalent, and that good analytical foundations exist for. Globalization, embedded realism, and path dependence. The paper goes on to explore recent developments in historical sociology and political science, where there are active attempts to rethink the application of path dependence to the evolution of institutions so as to emphasise change rather than continuity. Concerning the law, path dependence describes the phenomenon that an initially adopted legal provision becomes locked in in a developmental trajectory which reinforces itself continuously, becoming progressively more immune to change mahoney 2000, 5115. Path dependence has primarily been used in comparative historical analyses of the development and persistence of institutions, whether they be social, political, or cultural. Potential applications include issues of historical contingency in the late rio grande, settlement in the mesa. Bringing historical sociology and pathdependence together ssoar. Path dependence explains how the set of decisions people face for any given circumstance is. Latin america is today, and has been since the sixteenth century, part of an international. Mahoney and pierson, who are both sceptical to weak definitions of path dependence, agree that beginnings of societal processes are crucial mahoney 2000 mahoney, j.
The notion of path dependence has been deployed in the economic history and historical sociology literatures to explain sequences of events related mainly to technological and institutional evolution. The potential of path dependence in political studies ian. One more chorus of the ballad of qwerty, discussion paper in economic and social history, oxford. This holds true even if newer, more efficient products or.
Institutional path dependence means that decisions made in the past affect future choices. This article conceptualizes path dependence as a social process grounded in a dynamic of increasing returns. Moreover, dependency is a very deepseated historical process, rooted in the internationalization of capitalism. In essence, path dependence scholarship extends and refines this basic conceptualization of historical evolution. One of the important aspects of this theory is the argument that an earlier choice or event largely. This article is about path dependence in economics and social sciences. Initial conditions, general laws, path dependence, and explanation in historical sociology, american journal of sociology 104, no. We contribute to an understanding of these differences by developing a theory of the path dependence of corporate structure. Sorry, we are unable to provide the full text but you may find it at the following locations. Recent methodological work in comparative politics and sociology has adapted the concept of path dependence into analyses of political and social phenomenon. Recently, several historical sociologists have argued that the study of path dependence has important implications for social research. It has become a key concept in explanations of why institutions in political life do not change as much as might be expected.
Path dependency is an idea that tries to explain the continued use of a product or practice based on historical preference or use. Vincent ferraro, mount holyoke college south hadley, ma july 1996. Goldstone, initial conditions, general laws, path dependence, and explanation in historical sociology, american journal of sociology 104, no. The idea of path dependence has been discussed widely in economics, political science, and historical sociology. These disciplines build on many insights initially formulated by economists.
Path dependence, increasing returns, and historical. Historical sociology is a branch of sociology focusing on how societies develop through history. Moreover, path dependence might be maintained by irrational decisionsmaking. Developing legal system, legal transplants, and path. The path dependence of chinese corporate governance. Path dependence is a past choice that still constrains future choices and indicates an emphasis on the historical process in which the timing and sequence of events significantly impact social. Conceptualizing path dependence in defining path dependence, many historical sociologists employ a broad conceptualization that essentially entails the argument that past events influence future events. Increasing returns, path dependence, and the study of. In making this argument, historical sociologists follow the lead of prestigious economic historians who. In the social sciences, especially sociology and organizational theory. Paul pierson 2000 increasing returns, path dependence, and the study of politics. Path dependence explains how the set of decisions one faces for any given circumstance is limited by the decisions one has made in the past or by the events that one has experienced, even though past.
It looks at how social structures that many regard as natural are in fact shaped by complex social processes. Path dependence in historical sociology webarchiv of the eth. Goldstone university of california, davis much of the training of the modern economist tends to weaken the trainees natural, intuitive understanding of historical causation, so that some remedial work is required in addressing an audience, some. Path dependence in historical sociology northwestern scholars. The thrust of our argument is that this task is problematic. Dependency theory is a sociological theory which holds that economic events in history have encouraged developing countries to depend upon the support of more advanced nations.
A theory of path dependence in corporate governance and. Path dependence, increasing returns, and historical institutionalism introduction two interesting issues intersect at the heart of current comparative historical and. Path dependence in historical sociology springerlink. A theory of path dependence in corporate ownership and governance lucian arye bebchuk and mark j. As the core of the formal institutional framework the legal system is characterised by a path dependence, implication is that changes are sometimes. Path dependence has primarily been used in comparative historical analyses to analyze the development and persistence of institutions, whether they be social, political, or cultural. The missing link between the theory and empirics of path.
The path dependence analytical framework is part of the school of thought of the historical institutionalism, which considers institutions as structural variables from which stem arrangements of ideas, interests, and powers. Readings pertaining to path dependency by year of publication mahoney, james 2000, path dependence in historical sociology, theory and society, 29. Thanks to the work of historical sociologists the importance of initial conditionscontingent eventsis clearer now as well mahoney 2000. An essay on the existence and causes of path dependence, forthcoming, as path dependence in qjps. Jun 25, 2019 path dependency is an idea that tries to explain the continued use of a product or practice based on historical preference or use. Institutional theories, path dependence, rule of law, property rights, and development reforms.
Against their own wishes, governments found themselves accepting larger migrations and naturalizations because of the path dependent effects of their own citizenship and constitutional regimes. Historical institutionalism, path dependency and change. Path dependence in social and psychological risk factors for. Path dependence concepts, thus far, have seen little application in archaeology, but they have great potential. In social science, path dependence is an established theory. The structure in turn shapes institutions and organizations, which affect the society resulting in phenomena ranging from gender bias and income inequality to war. As such the canonical path dependence model actually stresses continuity rather than change. Path dependence wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Initial conditions, general laws, path dependence, and explanation in historical sociology 1. But there are large social structures that display path dependency as well. This article looks into the relevance of the socalled path dependence and historical context in contextual political analysis. Figure 1 the principle of path pependence by jame2000 source. It is used to explain how certain outcomes are the result of a particular.
Central america in comparative perspective, studies in comparative international development 36 1. A foundational concept for historical social science, cliometrica, 1 2, july, 91114 465 23. In the social sciences, especially sociology and organizational theory, a distinct yet closely related concept to path dependence is the concept of imprinting which captures how initial environmental conditions leave a persistent mark or imprint on organizations and organizational collectives such as industries and communities, thus continuing to shape organizational behaviours and outcomes in the. For example, according to sewells influential definition, path dependence means that what has hap. Roe corporate structures differ among the advanced economies of the world. Technological trajectories and path dependence semantic scholar. We adopt a notion of path dependence that subdivides sequences of events into. These strands of discussions deal with the same theme, but they also differ in certain. Path dependence has primarily been used in comparativehistorical analyses of. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks. This paper is concerned with the notion of path dependence as a framework to understand technological trajectories.
As the core of the formal institutional framework the legal system is characterised by a path dependence. The potential of path dependence in political studies ian greener university of york this article explores the dif. The potential of path dependence in political studies wiley online. Theory the above social risk factors were addressed because they are changeable, which is essential to the premise that preventive intervention is effective. A foundational concept for historical social science article pdf available in cliometrica 12. In making this argument, historical sociologists follow the lead of prestigious economic historians who have asserted that the analysis of path dependence opens whole new. Download james mahoney, path dependence in historical sociology. Path dependence to some sociologists is the theory that events that happened in past, have some or a lot of influence on events that happen in the future. Path dependence explains how the set of decisions people face for any given circumstance is limited by the decisions they have made in the past or by the events that they experienced, even though past circumstances may no longer be relevant. Hence, path dependency impedes the adoption of new legal provisions that are alternative from already existing legal provisions, thereby limiting rationalchoice. Path dependencecp1ln uva public people search university.
Peter lewin 2001, the market process and the economics of qwerty. European integration and institutional change in national parliaments, journal. Initial conditions, general laws, path dependence, and. For a similar topic in physics, see path dependence physics. The idea conceived during the vargas era, that only the state could. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a pdf of a single chapter of a.
A foundational concept for historical social science. It also identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different conceptualizations of path dependence and the tradeoffs involved in. Jame mahoney, 2000, path dependence in historical sociology bebchuk and roe utilize the theory of path dependence to resolve the structure of ownership and corporate governance. Institutions, path dependence, and democratic consolidation. Components of path dependence of the agricultural property. Path dependence in historical sociology created date. Mahoney, james 2000 path dependence in historical sociology, theory and society 29. A theory of path dependence in corporate governance and ownership. Drawing on historical institutionalist work, this article employs a path dependent analysis to account for these categories. Access to the complete content on oxford handbooks online requires a subscription or. At a general level, these concepts provide tools for theorizing historical sequences, such as patterns of settlement on a landscape and divergent historical traditions.
At the same time, however, soci ologists and political scientists offer their own distinctive contributions, some of which challenge the core. To overcome the shortcomings of the currently used notions of path dependence in evolutionary economics, martin revisits institutional analysis in historical sociology and political science, and carefully crafts an alternative model of path dependence on the basis of the latters understanding of the composite nature of. Broadly speaking, path dependence is about increasingly constrained processes that cannot easily be escaped. However, sociologist james mahoney has a different definition of path dependence.
Jame2000 summarized the principle of path dependence, like figure 1. James mahoney 2000 path dependence in historical sociology, theory and society, 29. These examples amount to structuring conditions that persist for a long time and further condition other historical developments. Comparative historical analysis this course provides an introduction to issues of theory, approach, and evidence in the field of. It attempts to explain exactly how history matters through studies of the means by which constraints on normal. Today, historical sociology is measured by a conjunction of questions that are rich in detail. First, path dependent analysis involves the study of causal processes that are highly sensitive to events that take place in the early stages of an overall historical sequence. Concerning the law, pathdependence describes the phenomenon that an initially adopted legal provision becomes lockedin in a developmental trajectory which reinforces itself continuously, becoming progressively more immune to change mahoney 2000, 5115. The potential of path dependence in political studies. It analyzes the different meanings and uses of the concept of path dependence in contemporary academic discourse and uses the array of distinct understandings of path dependence as a means of specifying a number of ways in which historical context matters. Initial conditions, general laws, path dependence, and explanation in historical sociology1 jack a. It also identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different conceptualizations of path dependence and the tradeoffs involved in adopting particular definitions of the concept. Path dependence has primarily been used in comparative historical analyses of.
1523 1491 1051 764 1440 1557 1268 1158 901 504 513 1499 1416 1544 498 1081 1364 906 1086 1566 1331 17 1504 746 1264 1028 1221 1304 513 445 1458 123 1001 553 198 1281 1101 280 667 539