Breaking out of old paths? Towards a research agenda on path decline

Michaela Trippl, Maximilian Benner and Jannik Kastrup

Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 2026, vol. 19, issue 1, 31-47

Abstract: The climate crisis confronts carbon-intensive industries with profound decarbonisation challenges, which may lead to reductions in production, job losses and other negative impacts in regions. Understanding these processes of regional industrial path decline is crucial, but so far path scholars have paid far more attention to new path emergence than to the radical transformation, shrinking, or even dissolution of old paths. To address this gap, the article identifies and discusses various dimensions of path decline (sources, vulnerabilities, forms, management and aftermath) and proposes a research agenda, raising topical questions on each dimension.

Keywords: regional industrial path development; path decline; delocking; carbon-intensive regions; decarbonisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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