Unlocking “lock-in” and path dependency : A review across disciplines and socio-environmental contexts

Goldstein, J.E. and Neimark, B. and Garvey, B. and Phelps, J. (2023) Unlocking “lock-in” and path dependency : A review across disciplines and socio-environmental contexts. World Development, 161: 106116. ISSN 0305-750X

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Abstract

Introduced in the early 2000s, the concept of carbon “lock-in” has been widely adopted by think tanks, academics, and civil society trying to break away from the consequences of fossil-fuel induced carbon emissions and climate change. The concept has been instrumental to energy economic policy, energy transitions, and automobile transportation and urban mobility. It has parallels with “path dependency” across sectors, including water governance, fisheries, farmer tenure, and debt. Yet its use has also fallen short in applying it to nontechnical settings beyond infrastructure. In this review article, we argue that the “lock-in” concept is relevant to a much broader range of multi-scalar socio-environmental challenges to development. We expand lock-in to consider granular issues that tend to slip out of macro-level technological and institutional path dependencies, without falling into the ‘naturalizing trap’ in systems thinking. Broadening and re-engaging the concept of lock-in strengthens our analytical ability to address a range of structurally uneven environmental and societal lock-ins. © 2022 The Author(s)

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
World Development
Additional Information:
Export Date: 27 October 2022
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3303
Subjects:
?? climate changeenergylock-inmaladaptationpath dependencypoverty trapdevelopmenteconomics and econometricssociology and political sciencegeography, planning and development ??
ID Code:
178249
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
01 Nov 2022 08:15
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 23:13