Path Dependence, Lock-In, and History

Competing Technologies, Increasing Returns, and Lock-In by Historical Events

Arthur, W. B. (1989) · The Economic Journal · doi:10.2307/2234208 · Cited by 7,489

Untitled work

(1985) · American Economic Review · Cited by 6,056

Technology Adoption in the Presence of Network Externalities

Katz, M. L., & Shapiro, C. (1986) · Journal of Political Economy · doi:10.1086/261409 · Cited by 2,622

Standardization, Compatibility, and Innovation

Farrell, J., & Saloner, G. (1985) · The RAND Journal of Economics · doi:10.2307/2555589 · Cited by 2,554

The Problem of Externality

Dahlman, C. J. (1979) · The Journal of Law and Economics · doi:10.1086/466936 · Cited by 1,202

Information and Efficiency:Another Viewpoint

Demsetz, H. (1972) · doi:10.1007/978-1-349-15486-9_14 · Cited by 869

The Fable of the Keys

Liebowitz, S. J., & Margolis, S. E. (1990) · The Journal of Law and Economics · doi:10.1086/467198 · Cited by 719

The Nature and Function of the Patent System

Kitch, E. W. (1977) · The Journal of Law and Economics · doi:10.1086/466903 · Cited by 709

Games and Information

Rasmussen, E. (1989) · Cited by 547

The Revenge of Homo Economicus: Contested Exchange and the Revival of Political Economy

Bowles, S., & Gintis, H. M. (1993) · The Journal of Economic Perspectives · doi:10.1257/jep.7.1.83 · Cited by 536

A Multi‐Layered Collaborative Marine Governance Model: Evaluating Change and Innovation of Marine Governance Arrangements

van Noort, C., van Leeuwen, J., Toonen, H., van Tatenhove, J. P. M., Haapasaari, P., Flannery, W., Nielsen, K. N., Boteler, B., Passarello, C., Dyremose, S. C. S., et al. (2025) · Environmental Policy and Governance · doi:10.1002/eet.70002 · Cited by 10

Towards a theory of endogenous market structure in strategy

Manral, L. (2010) · Journal of strategy and management · doi:10.1108/17554251011092719 · Cited by 10

L’esprit predictif : introduction à la théorie du cerveau bayésien

Bottemanne, H., Longuet, Y., & Gauld, C. (2022) · L Encéphale · doi:10.1016/j.encep.2021.09.011 · Cited by 25

Moral impact of technologies from a pluralist perspective: Artificial photosynthesis as a case in point

Popa, E. O., Blok, V., Katsoukis, G., & Schubert, C. (2023) · Technology in Society · doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102357 · Cited by 13

Boundary-Spanning Search for Knowledge, Knowledge Reconstruction and the Sustainable Innovation Ability of Agricultural Enterprises: A Chinese Perspective

Duan, K., Zhang, C., Li, J., Zhang, R., & Zhang, Y. (2020) · Agriculture · doi:10.3390/agriculture10020039 · Cited by 10

Behavioral economics and policy evaluation

Brennan, T. J. (2014) · Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis · doi:10.1515/jbca-2013-0022 · Cited by 10

Commentaries and Rejoinder to “Does Quality Win? Network Effects versus Quality in High-Tech Markets”

(2009) · Journal of Marketing Research · doi:10.1509/jmkr.46.2.150 · Cited by 10

Subtheme 1: Path Dependence and Creation Processes in the Emergence of Markets, Technologies and Institutions Convenors: Michel Callon, Raghu Garud and Peter Karnøe Organizational Paths: Path Dependency and Beyond

Sydow, J., & Schreyögg, G. (2005) · Cited by 10

Proletarianization in the Industrial Revolution: Regionalism and Kinship in the Labour Markets of the British Coal Industry from the Seventeenth to the Nineteenth Centuries

Langton, J. (2000) · Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers · doi:10.1111/j.0020-2754.2000.00031.x · Cited by 10

Why do malfunctioning institutions persist? A case study of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Veenendaal, W. P. (2016) · Acta Politica · doi:10.1057/s41269-016-0004-2 · Cited by 10

British industry in the interwar years

Bowden, S. M., & Higgins, D. M. (2004) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521820370.015 · Cited by 10

Når nordområdene lever sitt eget liv

Pedersen, T. (2018) · Internasjonal politikk · doi:10.23865/intpol.v76.1122 · Cited by 10

Entrepreneurial Borrowing: Do Entrepreneurs Seek and Receive Enough Credit?

Fraser, S. (2019) · Foundations and Trends® in Entrepreneurship · doi:10.1561/0300000076 · Cited by 11

Barriers to change in family businesses

Gómez, J. D. L. (2020) · European Journal of Family Business · doi:10.24310/ejfbejfb.v10i1.7018 · Cited by 10

From Qwerty to Nuclear Power Reactors: Historic Battles for the Standard

Weitzel, T., & Westarp, F. V. (2002) · Physica-Verlag eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-57476-4_2 · Cited by 10

Computational Economics als wirtschaftsinformatischer Beitrag zu einer interdisziplinären Netzwerktheorie

Weitzel, T., & König, W. (2003) · WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK · doi:10.1007/bf03250912 · Cited by 10

Der Umgang mit Ungewissheit in der Politik ziviler Sicherheit

Kolliarakis, G. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-00897-0_14 · Cited by 9

District heating and ambivalent energy transition paths in urban and rural contexts

Carrosio, G., & Magnani, N. (2020) · Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning · doi:10.1080/1523908x.2020.1767548 · Cited by 9

From Social and Development Banking to Digital Financial Inclusion: the Journey of Banking in India

Sarkar, K. K., & Thapa, R. (2021) · Perspectives on Global Development and Technology · doi:10.1163/15691497-12341575 · Cited by 9

All according to plan: Maldevelopment, moral hazard, federal aid, and climate change adaptation on Dauphin Island, Alabama, U.S.A.

Patsch, K., Jenkins, S., & King, P. (2022) · Ocean & Coastal Management · doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106451 · Cited by 9

Navigating the Biocosmos: Cornerstones of a Bioeconomic Utopia

Onyeali, W., Schlaile, M. P., & Winkler, B. (2023) · Land · doi:10.3390/land12061212 · Cited by 13

Chapter 11. New Media and New Territories for European Law: Competition in the Market for Social Networking Services

Fietkiewicz, K. J., & Lins, E. (2016) · De Gruyter eBooks · doi:10.1515/9783110418163-012 · Cited by 9

A public policy strategies for electric vehicles and for vehicle to grid power

Pérez, Y., Petit, M., & Willett, K. (2013) · World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS) · doi:10.1109/evs.2013.6914856 · Cited by 9

The Business-to-Consumer Lock-in Effect

Eurich, M., & Burtscher, M. J. (2014) · Cited by 9

Patent analysis for guiding technology transfer from EU/EEA to China: The case of CO2 compressor in CCUS cooperation

Liu, X., & Yu, X. M. (2016) · Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET) · doi:10.1109/picmet.2016.7806765 · Cited by 9

Escaping from the State? Historical Paths to Public and Private Insurance

Pearson, R. (2020) · Enterprise & Society · doi:10.1017/eso.2020.26 · Cited by 9

The role of path–dependent institutions during the collapse and rebuilding of a fishery

Bertheussen, B. A. (2021) · Marine Policy · doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104944 · Cited by 9

Diffusion of competing innovations in influence networks

Kim, J., & Hur, W. (2012) · Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination · doi:10.1007/s11403-012-0106-5 · Cited by 9

Establishing Causal Order in Longitudinal Studies Combining Binary and Continuous Dependent Variables

Kling, G., Harvey, C. E., & Maclean, M. (2015) · Organizational Research Methods · doi:10.1177/1094428115618760 · Cited by 9

‚Wer zu spät kommt, den bestraft das Leben‘ – Über biographische Pfade und Pfadabhängigkeiten

Garz, D. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-03539-6_6 · Cited by 9

A REVIEW OF IFC STANDARDIZATION – INTEROPERABILITY THROUGH COMPLEMENTARY DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES

Laakso, M., & Kiviniemi, A. (2011) · Cited by 9

(Former) informal networks as a reflection of informal institutions in East European transitional societies: legacy or opportunism?

Banović, R. Š. (2015) · Equilibrium Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy · doi:10.12775/equil.2015.009 · Cited by 9

EVALUATION OF PRESENT STRATEGIES IN MULTIAGENT PRODUCT MARKET MODEL WITH NETWORK EXTERNALITY

Kawamura, H., & Ohuchi, A. (2005) · Transactions of the Operations Research Society of Japan · doi:10.15807/torsj.48.48 · Cited by 9

First mover or higher quality? Optimal product strategy in markets with positive feedbacks

Lamberson, P. J., & Page, S. E. (2017) · Journal of Economics & Management Strategy · doi:10.1111/jems.12231 · Cited by 9

Visual Tools for Developing Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Capacity

Griffith, S., Carruthers, K., & Bliemel, M. (2018) · Common Ground Research Networks eBooks · doi:10.18848/978-1-86335-117-1/cgp · Cited by 9

Historical paths of environmental injustice: a century of placing industrial facilities in Helsinki, Finland

Schönach, P. (2014) · Local Environment · doi:10.1080/13549839.2014.985641 · Cited by 9

The limitations of economic counterfactuals: The case of the Lancashire textile industry

Toms, S., & Beck, M. P. (2007) · Management & Organizational History · doi:10.1177/1744935907086117 · Cited by 9

Institutions and forest tenure in the Russian forest policy

Torniainen, T. (2009) · Dissertationes Forestales · doi:10.14214/df.95 · Cited by 9

Contrasted Paths of Adoption: Is E‐business Really Converging Toward a Common Organizational Model?

Brousseau, É., & Chaves, B. (2005) · Electronic Markets · doi:10.1080/10196780500205364 · Cited by 9

The Interrelationships between Technical Standards and Industry Structures: Actor-Network Based Case Studies of the Mobile Wireless and Television Industries in the US and the UK

Tilson, D. (2008) · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · Cited by 9

Promoting Integration of European Retail Payment Systems: Role of Competition, Cooperation and Regulation

Kemppainen, K., & Salo, S. (2006) · Chapters in SUERF Studies · Cited by 9

Institutional Bottlenecks: What Can Be Done?Preprint

Coyne, C. J., & Hall, A. R. (2012) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2188065 · Cited by 9

The German Social Market in the World of Global Finance: Pension Investment Management and the Limits of Consensual Decision MakingPreprint

Clark, G. L., Mansfield, D., & Tickell, A. (2000) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.238701 · Cited by 9

Die Konstitution technologischer Pfade: Überlegungen jenseits der Dichotomie von Pfadabhängigkeit und Pfadkreation

Meyer, U., & Schubert, C. (2005) · Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences) · Cited by 9

Inertia In Infrastructure Development : Some Analytical Aspects, And Reasons For Inefficient Infrastructure Choices

Strand, J. (2010) · doi:10.1596/1813-9450-5295 · Cited by 9

The New Company Law - What Matters in an Innovative Economy?Preprint

McCahery, J. A., Vermeulen, E. P. M., Hisatake, M., & Saito, J. (2006) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.942993 · Cited by 9

Mathematics and Statistics

Hall, B. H., & Helmers, C. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197630914.005.0001 · Cited by 9

Pathways to a sustainable energy future: A comparative case study of four Texas municipalities

Yang, J.-Y. (2025) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114663 · Cited by 9

How do transaction costs, capabilities and networks influence the procurement strategies of small agri-food firms? Evidence from the wine industry

Miranda, B. V., Ross, B., Franken, J. R. V., & Gomez, M. I. (2021) · Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development · doi:10.1108/jsbed-01-2021-0007 · Cited by 8

Path Dependence and QWERTY's Lock-In: Toward a Veblenian Interpretation

Hall, J. B., Lacasa, I. D., & Günther, J. (2011) · Journal of Economic Issues · doi:10.2753/jei0021-3624450223 · Cited by 8

Pfadabhängigkeit und Pfadbruch in Unternehmen

Schreyögg, G. (2014) · Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1007/bf03373722 · Cited by 8

Sanitary Systems: Challenges for Innovation

Eijlander, S., & Mulder, K. F. (2019) · Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy Water and Environment Systems · doi:10.13044/j.sdewes.d6.0231 · Cited by 8

Reversible Experiments: Putting Geological Disposal to the Test

Bergen, J. P. (2015) · Science and Engineering Ethics · doi:10.1007/s11948-015-9697-2 · Cited by 8

Mind-Dependence. The Past in the Grip of the Present

Patalano, R. (2007) · Journal of Bioeconomics · doi:10.1007/s10818-007-9020-7 · Cited by 8

Diffusion of innovative heating systems in detached homes in Sweden

Mahapatra, K., & Gustavsson, L. (2008) · International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy · doi:10.1504/ijetp.2008.019954 · Cited by 8

Path Dependence, Realism and the NHS

Greener, I. (2006) · British Politics · doi:10.1057/palgrave.bp.4200021 · Cited by 8

Challenges to Networks of Privilege in Morocco: Implications for Network Analysis

Cammett, M. C. (2004) · Palgrave Macmillan US eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781403982148_9 · Cited by 8

The Impossibility of Entrepreneurship Under the Neoclassical Framework: Open vs. Closed-Ended Processes

Roche, G. A. G. (2016) · Journal of Economic Issues · doi:10.1080/00213624.2016.1210378 · Cited by 8

Forecasting design and decision paths in ship design using the ship-centric Markov decision process model

Kana, A. A. (2017) · Ocean Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.04.012 · Cited by 8

The European Union vs. the Eurasian Economic Union: “integration race 2.0”?

Kinyakin, A. A., & Kucheriavaia, S. (2019) · Przegląd europejski · doi:10.5604/01.3001.0013.5846 · Cited by 8

Locking in and Unlocking – Adding to Path Dependence

Ericson, M. M., & Lundin, R. A. (2013) · Palgrave Macmillan eBooks · doi:10.1057/9780230392830.0018 · Cited by 8

TECHNOLOGY DEBT: TOWARD A NEW THEORY OF TECHNOLOGY HERITAGE

Magnusson, J., & Bygstad, B. (2014) · Cited by 8

On neoinstitutional theory and preclassical economies: mercantilism revisited

Ekelund, R. B., & Tollison, R. D. (1997) · European Journal of the History of Economic Thought · doi:10.1080/10427719700000058 · Cited by 8

Trade, 1870–1939: from globalisation to fragmentation

Harley, C. K. (2004) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521820370.008 · Cited by 8

Government and the economy, 1860–1939

Middleton, R. (2004) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521820370.018 · Cited by 8

System Transition - Concepts and Framework for Analysing Nordic Energy System Research and GovernancePreprint

Коннола, Т., Carrillo‐Hermosilla, J., & Name, N. (2013) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1140141 · Cited by 8

Diffusion of innovative domestic heating systems and multi-storey wood-framed buildings in Sweden

Mahapatra, K. (2007) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) · Cited by 8

Causes and Consequences of Market Leadership in Application SoftwarePreprint

Liebowitz, S. J., & Margolis, S. E. (1999) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.165069 · Cited by 8

Why Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD is not VHS vs. Betamax: The Co-Evolution of Standard-Setting ConsortiaPreprint

Christ, J. P., & Slowak, A. P. (2010) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1626224 · Cited by 8

To scale, or not to scale – that is not the only question : Rethinking the idea and practice of scaling innovations for development and progress

Wigboldus, S. (2018) · doi:10.18174/449586 · Cited by 8

Defensive, reactive, or proactive? A critical review and conceptual framework of the role of incumbent firms in sustainability transitions

Saleh, R. (2025) · Energy Research & Social Science · doi:10.1016/j.erss.2025.104256 · Cited by 7

Market-driven organizational lock-in: A case study of a former first mover

Njøs, R., Jakobsen, S., & Rosnes, V. (2016) · Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography · doi:10.1080/00291951.2015.1116601 · Cited by 7

Identifying technology lock-in and tracing knowledge source trajectories: a case study of lithography

Chen, P., David, K. G., & Zhao, D. (2022) · Technology Analysis and Strategic Management · doi:10.1080/09537325.2022.2145942 · Cited by 7

Evolutionary contingency as non-trivial objective probability: Biological evitability and evolutionary trajectories

Wong, T. Y. W. (2020) · Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2019.101246 · Cited by 8

Should attention be all we need? The epistemic and ethical implications of unification in machine learning

Fishman, N., & Hancox-Li, L. (2022) · ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT) · doi:10.1145/3531146.3533206 · Cited by 13

Governing digital crisis responses: platform standards and the dilemma of COVID-19 contact tracing

Buesching, F. B., Steininger, D. M., & Veit, D. J. (2022) · Journal of Business Economics · doi:10.1007/s11573-022-01118-4 · Cited by 7

Who Is Best Placed to Support Cyber Responsibilized UK Parents?

Prior, S., & Renaud, K. (2023) · Children · doi:10.3390/children10071130 · Cited by 7

Falhas organizacionais: tipologia, determinantes e proposta de modelo teórico

Caleman, S. M. D. Q., & Zylbersztajn, D. (2013) · Organizações & Sociedade · doi:10.1590/s1984-92302013000200005 · Cited by 7

Rerun the tape of history and QWERTY always wins: Response to Arthur, Margolis, and Vergne

Kay, N. M. (2013) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2013.03.010 · Cited by 7

Ethnic Groups at ‘Critical Junctures’: The Laz vs. Kurds

Sarıgil, Z. (2012) · Middle Eastern Studies · doi:10.1080/00263206.2011.652778 · Cited by 7

Sustainability and the local scale: squaring the peg?

Parto, S. (2004) · International Journal of Sustainable Development · doi:10.1504/ijsd.2004.004980 · Cited by 7

Path Dependency and the Allocation of Public Investment in Mexico

Costa‐Font, J., & Rodríguez-Oreggia, E. (2006) · Environment and Planning C Government and Policy · doi:10.1068/c056 · Cited by 7

Belgium's historic beer diversity: should we raise a pint to institutions?

Poelmans, E., & Taylor, J. E. (2019) · Journal of Institutional Economics · doi:10.1017/s1744137419000080 · Cited by 7

River research and applications across borders

Pinter, N., Brasington, J., Gurnell, A. M., Kondolf, G. M., Tockner, K., Wharton, G., & Yarnell, S. M. (2019) · River Research and Applications · doi:10.1002/rra.3430 · Cited by 7

Denkanstöße zu einer anderen Geographie der Ökonomie

Berndt, C., & Glückler, J. (2006) · transcript Verlag eBooks · doi:10.14361/9783839404546 · Cited by 7

In Defense of Monopoly: How Market Power Fosters Creative Production

Lee, D. R., & McKenzie, R. B. (2019) · University of Michigan Press eBooks · doi:10.1353/book.67371 · Cited by 7

The other end of entrepreneurship: a narrative study of insolvency practice in Ireland

McCarthy, P. T., O’Riordan, C., & Griffin, R. (2014) · International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research · doi:10.1108/ijebr-08-2012-0084 · Cited by 7

Path Dependence, VRIN Resource Endowments, and Managers: Towards an Integration of Resource-Based Theory and Upper Echelons Theory

Dutta, D. K. (2013) · Journal of Business Theory and Practice · doi:10.22158/jbtp.v1n1p109 · Cited by 7

The future of fuel cells in a long term inter-technology competition framework

Mima, S., & Patrick Criqui, A. (2003) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-24822-4_3 · Cited by 7

ASCAP versus BMI (versus CBS): modeling competition between and bundling by performance rights organizations

Kleit, A. N. (2000) · Economic Inquiry · doi:10.1093/ei/38.4.579 · Cited by 7

Domestic finance, 1860–1914

Cottrell, P. L. (2004) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/chol9780521820370.011 · Cited by 7

Path Dependence and the Place of Social Action in Social Work Practice

Breton, M. (2006) · Social Work With Groups · doi:10.1300/j009v29n04_03 · Cited by 7

How Digital Economics Revises Antitrust Thinking

McKenzie, R. B., & Lee, D. R. (2001) · The Antitrust Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0003603x0104600202 · Cited by 7

Why Innovation Theories Make no SensePreprint

Moldaschl, M. F. (2010) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 7

Increasing Returns and Network Structure in the Evolutionary Dynamics of Industries

Bonaccorsi, A. J., & Giuri, P. (2003) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781781952894.00010 · Cited by 7

Culture’s building blocks: investigating cultural evolution in a LEGO construction task

McGraw, J. J., Wallot, S., Mitkidis, P., & Roepstorff, A. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01017 · Cited by 6

Business Models and the Dynamics of Supply and Demand for Standards

Hawkins, R. (2009) · Advances in IT standards and standardization research (AISSR) book series/Advances in IT standards and standardization research series · doi:10.4018/978-1-60566-320-3.ch004 · Cited by 6

COMPLEMENTORS’ DECISIONS ON PARTNERSHIP RETENTION IN MARKETS WITH NETWORK EXTERNALITIES

Lee, K., & Joshi, K. (2019) · International Journal of Innovation Management · doi:10.1142/s1363919620500590 · Cited by 6

Global Climate Policy Reinforces Local Social Path-Dependent Structures: More Conflict in the World?

Kominek, J. (2012) · Hexagon series on human and environmental security and peace · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-28626-1_6 · Cited by 6

Some reflections on the diffusion of pellet heating systems in Sweden

Mahapatra, K., & Gustavsson, L. (2004) · Cited by 6

The Same Or Not The Same - On The Variety Of Mechanisms Of Path Dependence

Beyer, J. (2010) · doi:10.5281/zenodo.1333469 · Cited by 86

Path Dependence

Margolis, S. E., & Liebowitz, S. J. (2002) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-349-74173-1_270 · Cited by 1

Path Dependence and the Quest for Historical Economics: One More chorus of Ballad of QWERTYPreprint

David, P. A. (1997) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 163

The Grip of History and the Scope for Novelty: Some Results and Open Questions on Path Dependence in Economic ProcessesPreprint

Castaldi, C., & Giovanni Dosi, A. (2004) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 3

Modeling, Measuring, and Distinguishing Path Dependence, Outcome Dependence, and Outcome Independence

Jackson, J. E., & Kollman, K. (2012) · Political Analysis · doi:10.1093/pan/mpr050 · Cited by 18