A Closer Look: The Legacy Period
Paul David (2007) Rejects the Deterministic Interpretation
Brian Arthur (1994) is explicit about the non-deterministic character of increasing returns. “Under increasing returns … the process becomes path-dependent” (27). “Exit from an inferior equilibrium in economics depends very much on the source of the self-reinforcing mechanism. It depends on the degree to which the advantages accrued by the inferior ‘equilibrium’ are reversible or transferable to an alternative one.… where coordination effects are the source of lock-in, often advantages are transferable” (118).
Taylor Boas (2007) offers an excellent, further account of the interplay between stability and incremental change. He suggests a composite-standard model of path dependence, which shows how “complex political institutions subject to increasing returns can evolve gradually over time through a changing mix of lower-level component parts” (33). Boas summarizes his argument as follows:
“Political scientists studying institutional development face the challenge of accounting for both continuity and change over time. Models of path dependence based on increasing returns, inspired by the example of the QWERTY typewriter keyboard, have played an important role in the analysis of institutional continuity, but they have been criticized for their inability to accommodate change. In this article
I present an alternative model of path dependence inspired by the example of the Internet, a technology that has changed fundamentally since its invention. The composite-standard model of path dependence illustrates how complex political institutions subject to increasing returns can evolve gradually over time through a changing mix of lower-level component parts. By incorporating mechanisms of institutional change, such as conversion and layering, within an increasing returns based theoretical framework, the composite-standard model highlights new interconnections among these previously distinct processes and offers new insights into the nature of long-term political change.” (Boas 2007: 33).
Taylor Boas (2007) offers an excellent, further account of the interplay between stability and incremental change. He suggests a composite-standard model of path dependence, which shows how “complex political institutions subject to increasing returns can evolve gradually over time through a changing mix of lower-level component parts” (33). Boas summarizes his argument as follows:
“Political scientists studying institutional development face the challenge of accounting for both continuity and change over time. Models of path dependence based on increasing returns, inspired by the example of the QWERTY typewriter keyboard, have played an important role in the analysis of institutional continuity, but they have been criticized for their inability to accommodate change. In this article
I present an alternative model of path dependence inspired by the example of the Internet, a technology that has changed fundamentally since its invention. The composite-standard model of path dependence illustrates how complex political institutions subject to increasing returns can evolve gradually over time through a changing mix of lower-level component parts. By incorporating mechanisms of institutional change, such as conversion and layering, within an increasing returns based theoretical framework, the composite-standard model highlights new interconnections among these previously distinct processes and offers new insights into the nature of long-term political change.” (Boas 2007: 33).