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Putting path dependence in its place: toward a Taxonomy of institutional change

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  • Thomas Rixen

    (University of Bamberg, Germany)

  • Lora Anne Viola

    (Free University Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Stalled progress on explaining institutional change is, in part, the result of two conceptual challenges that hinder effective theory building: concept stretching and concept proliferation. These problems affect a hallmark concept of institutional change, path dependence, whose usefulness has been curtailed by the variety of meanings attributed to it. This article seeks to remedy concept stretching and proliferation by developing a taxonomy of institutional change explanations. Starting with the core attributes of path dependence, increasing returns and endogeneity, we use the procedure of ‘negative identification’ to derive a logically complete set of possible change explanations. The result is a taxonomy in which the scope of path dependence is delimited vis-à -vis other change explanations. We illustrate the usefulness of the taxonomy by assessing stretching in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Rixen & Lora Anne Viola, 2015. "Putting path dependence in its place: toward a Taxonomy of institutional change," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 27(2), pages 301-323, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:27:y:2015:i:2:p:301-323
    DOI: 10.1177/0951629814531667
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jeroen van der Heijden, 2020. "Urban climate governance informed by behavioural insights: A commentary and research agenda," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(9), pages 1994-2007, July.
    3. Hubert Zimmermann, 2019. "The European Parliament and the Layered Politicization of the External Dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 237-247.
    4. Adekola, Olalekan & Grainger, Alan, 2023. "Bottom-up and bottom-top institutional changes in environmental management in the Niger Delta," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    5. Baxter Jamie, 2019. "Leadership, Law and Development," The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 119-158, January.
    6. Beyer, Jürgen, 2024. "On a Branching Route: The Spectrum of Path Dependency in Policy Research," SocArXiv 4nhxk, Center for Open Science.
    7. Stephen, Matthew D. & Parízek, Michal, 2019. "New Powers and the Distribution of Preferences in Global Trade Governance: From Deadlock and Drift to Fragmentation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 24(6), pages 735-758.
    8. I Gede Wahyu Wicaksana & Demas Nauvarian & Putu Shangrina Pramudia, 2023. "ASEAN, COVID-19 and Myanmar crisis: Dealing with critical juncture," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 26(1), pages 40-54, March.

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