Research on Path Dependence of Industrial Clusters: Taking Xuchang Tobacco Industrial Cluster as an Example

As the major carriers for the development of the regional economy and small-and-medium-sized enterprises, industry clusters are faced with challenges of sustainable development in the process of China's industrial upgrading and transformation. This study takes the development history of China's Xuchang tobacco industry cluster as the background, extracts some key concepts from Path-Dependence Theory and then constructs the relational model of path dependence elements, hoping to find out the formation mechanism of path dependence. The study shows that, firstly, learning costs, transaction costs, transformation costs and innovation risks determine what decisions to be taken for those enterprises in the clusters, and they are also the internal economic factors for formation of path-dependence. Secondly, the competence of an enterprise is the main reason accounting for the path dependence of the cluster. Lastly, habit seem to be the social cause and the highlight of the path dependence. Moreover, those path dependence elements are interactive and reciprocally enhanced.

Industry Dynamics and Path Dependencies

Industry dynamics are about stability and change on the field level of analysis. This chapter uses the lens of path dependence to study the emergent field of renewable energy. On this level of analysis, path dependence theory has to address not only technological but also organizational and institutional dynamics that intricately interact. More specifically, by means of such a multi-dimensional lens, this chapter will look at the increasing generation of electric energy through wind power to illustrate different industry dynamics in four countries. The United Kingdom and Japan will illustrate the persistence of an established path in generating electric energy through fossil fuels and nuclear, while the German and, more tenuously, Chinese cases serve as examples for path-breaking change and the conditions making the emergence of renewables, and in particular wind energy, possible.

Organized Crime in Albania: A Path Dependence Perspective

Albanian organized crime has gained attention from the media and academia due to its significant role in international criminal world. Many studies have showcased Albanian criminal groups’ main characteristics and what makes them stand out. Nevertheless, such studies lack a theoretical application that binds the findings and provides an extensive panorama of Albanian organized crime development. Implying that the formation of Albanian organized crime is not a coincidence but rather an ongoing process, this study refers to path dependence theory to explain such an occurrence. Traditionally, the study of path dependence has focused on explaining how standards or rules become reinforced and determinant in a set environment by passing through three sequential stages. Consequently, the study uses a three-phase model to analyze Albanian organized crime from its inception to its latest stage.

‘Why Was He Videoing Us?’: The ethics and politics of audio-visual propaganda in child trafficking and human trafficking campaigns

This paper is a critical reflection on the ethical and political issues associated with the creation and dissemination of unsettling images and videos for child trafficking and human trafficking abolitionist campaigns. The paper acknowledges efforts by anti-trafficking campaigners to address accusations of poverty porn, stigmatisation, and sensationalism directed at such visual propaganda. However, it also observes that these remedial measures have had very little impact. Anti-child trafficking and anti-human trafficking campaigns are still dominated by sensational spectacles of victimhood, abjection, pain, and suffering. The paper attributes this inertia to campaigners’ fears that radical deviation from the use of emotive or ‘biting’ visuals may undermine their established narratives, campaign goals, and even credibility. It supports this conclusion using path dependence theory and the findings of research with residents of remote island communities on the Lake Volta in Ghana who have been the focus of extensive anti-child-trafficking raids and campaigns over the last decade.

The legitimacy of global accounting rules: a note on the challenges from path-dependence theory

This paper discusses the legitimacy of the convergence of accounting regulation from the view of path-dependence theory. It is argued here that legitimacy of converged accounting rules is almost impossible to achieve because of the path-dependent development of corporate governance systems, which depends on the prevailing norms and beliefs of society. The different elements of corporate governance systems have to be consistent with these values in order to achieve the real convergence of accounting standards. The paper analyses the development of accounting convergence and discusses different convergence strategies from the view of legitimacy theory and path-dependence theory. Finally, the paper presents a hypothetical solution under which real convergence of accounting standards seems possible. The results of the paper are relevant for accounting research, and important to regulators as well, because, by analysing the factors that influence convergence, the paper is able to help us to understand why real convergence of accounting regulation may be difficult to achieve.

Path Dependence and the Roots of Interorganizational Relationship Challenges

Governance today often requires concerted action by multiple organizations operating within and across sectors. Although scholars fruitfully have assayed many factors that facilitate or constrain interorganizational collaboration, the extant literature largely ignores the ways in which historical patterns of policy and organizational development may figure in present-day obstacles to collaboration. This is unfortunate, for such obstacles may result from path dependence and, thus, be particularly ingrained and resistant to change. In this article, we detail recent advances in the path dependency theory, then illustrate our argument with a case study of path-dependent barriers to collaboration between two public programs pressed to work together after decades of deliberately separate operation. The case confirms the utility of new theoretical developments, yet also suggests necessary clarifications and refinements. Though aspects of path dependence theory should be reexamined, we argue that it is ripe for use by scholars of public management concerned with barriers to collaboration and other contemporary governance challenges.

The Policy of Technological the Policy of Technological Innovation and Economic Trajectory of Portugal

This chapter is the result of an interuniversity exchange doctoral research project carried out in the Algarve region, Portugal, in 2017. Its objective was to discuss the economic trajectory of Portugal and its implications for those political strategies encouraging technological innovation. The empirical research used interviews and the analytical results were based on the path dependence theory. The outcomes of this study point to the dependence of the Algarve region from external investments.

Energy transition and path dependence: the case of Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s world known renewable energy model relies heavily on large scale hydropower, a source surrounded by strong environmental and social questionings. This condition of dependence has its own reinforcing processes that hinder advancements of alternative renewable technologies. In today’s carbon-constrained world, new approaches – and new geographies – are required to ensure the availability and accessibility of sustainable energy services. Using path dependence theory developed within evolutionary economic geography and neoinstitutionalist school of thought, the present research offers an explanation of the specific path driven by the impact of historical events that favor hydropower in Costa Rica’s energy transition.