Path dependence is a concept in the social sciences, referring to processes where past events or decisions constrain later events or decisions. It can be used to refer to outcomes

Path dependence is the tendency of institutions or technologies to develop in certain ways because of their structure or their beliefs and values.

Path dependence is defined as a process wherein initial conditions lead to divergent trajectories due to positive amplification, resulting in increasingly entrenched development along a specific …

Path dependence is the dependence of economic outcomes on the path of previous outcomes, rather than simply on current conditions. In a path dependent process, “history matters” — it …

Jan 1, 2025 · Path dependence is analogous to inertia in physics. Once things enter a path, they may become dependent on that path. This is because economic life, like the physical world, …

Apr 29, 2024 · Path dependence refers to the concept in economics and other social sciences that the decisions and outcomes we face today are heavily influenced by the historical choices …

Mar 7, 2025 · This article describes the evolution of discussions around the concept of path dependence, which has established itself as an explanatory framework in various academic …

2 days ago · ‘Path dependence exists when the outcome of a process depends on its past history, on a sequence of decisions made by agents and resulting outcomes, and not only on …

In common interpretations, path dependence means that current and future states, actions, or decisions depend on the path of previous states, actions, or decisions.

Jun 11, 2025 · Path dependence is a concept that describes how the trajectory of a system is influenced by its past events and experiences. In other words, the current state of a system is …