Path dependency, especially in corporate governance/functioning and political theory.

Question

I’ve read up on the topic but can’t get clarity. For instance, what’s the difference between path dependency and a simple reluctance to change?

In: Other

Answer 1

I think a good example is the QWERTY keyboard layout. Today it is so etablished and recognised that even if someone makes a better and more efficient layout it would be very hard to replace the QWERTY layout simply because we are all so used to it and no one really wants to bother with learning a better layout. The same is true in governance and institutions where rules are so ingrained that they are very hard to change and thus they became path dependent and resilient to change, even though there could be better rules. It is kinda like conformity 🙂