The paradox of ‘on-path’ development: what are the structure–agency dynamics of avoiding negative lock-in?

Jack L Harris

Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 2026, vol. 19, issue 1, 157-171

Abstract: A fundamental concern for entrepreneurial ecosystems, industrial districts, clusters, regional innovation systems and other types of industrial pathways is the (in)ability to avoid or resolve potential negative lock-ins and continue ‘on-path’ development, making the question of how to avoid such negative lock-ins critical for local and regional development. Reworking path-dependent lock-in through a critical realist perspective on opportunity spaces, this paper investigates how actors (re)produce system institutional configurations that both structure path dynamics and facilitate the trinity of change agency required to overcome potential negative lock-ins. The findings raise important questions for how system-level agency such as place-based leadership and institutional entrepreneurship is conceptualised through structure–agency dynamics in evolutionary economic geography.

Keywords: lock-in; institutional entrepreneurship; place-based leadership; system building; agency; path dependence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society is currently edited by Judith Clifton, Anna Davies, Betsy Donald, Emil Evenhuis, Stefania Fiorentino (Associate Editor), Harry Garretsen, Meric Gertler, Amy Glasmeier, Mia Gray, Robert Hassink, Dieter Kogler, Michael Kitson, Linda Lobao, Charles van Marrewijk, Ron Martin, Peter Sunley, Peter Tyler and Chun Yang

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