Lock-in, a way to enable regional economic resilience? Insights from Baotou, China

Chang Luo and Yunqing Xu

Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 2026, vol. 19, issue 1, 275-292

Abstract: By examining a case study of Baotou, China, this article demonstrates how lock-in performed an enabling role for regional economic resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and the silicon industrial path development. The enabling functions of Baotou's lock-in with the steel industry were performed through the collective agencies in mitigating shortages of labour and raw materials, seeking external varieties and redeploying local resources under a recovery, as well as a reorientation process. This article identifies that functional, cognitive and political lock-in could facilitate the forming of collective agencies and enhance their capabilities and, therefore, play an enabling role in Baotou's economic resilience. This research contributes to the existing literature by enlarging the understanding of lock-in by exploring its relation to regional economic resilience and identifying its enabling roles.

Keywords: collective agency; regional economic resilience; lock-in; 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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