The politics of path reproduction under vulnerable climate conditions: the case of skiing infrastructure expansion in the Austrian Alps

Valentina Ausserladscheider

Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 2026, vol. 19, issue 1, 213-227

Abstract: Climate change poses risks to regional economies reliant on vulnerable infrastructure. While evolutionary economic geography highlights how established infrastructure sustains economic paths, less is known about path reproduction under adverse conditions. This is vital as climate change destabilises paths, sparking political conflicts over regional economic futures. Through a comparative case study of ski infrastructure expansion in differing climate conditions, this paper combines interviews and archival research to reveal how political conflicts about the region’s future shape path reproduction. It extends path dependence literature by emphasising the role of politics and future visions in maintaining path stability, offering key insights into regional development as climate change accelerates.

Keywords: climate change; regional economy; path dependence; infrastructure; sustainability; political conflict (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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