The Library
Path dependence in spatial networks: The standardization of railway track gauge
Tools
Tools
Tools
UNSPECIFIED (2002) Path dependence in spatial networks: The standardization of railway track gauge. EXPLORATIONS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY, 39 (3). pp. 282-314. doi:10.1006/exeh.2002.0786
Research output not available from this repository, contact author.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/exeh.2002.0786
Abstract
This article investigates the historical emergence of regional standard railway track gauges in light of a model of the interaction of agents' choices within a spatial network. Contingent events, reinforced by positive feedbacks, determined both particular standards and the geographic extent of standardization in Britain, Continental Europe, North America, and Australia. The model, solved using numerical simulation, shows the allocation process to be path dependent. Monte Carlo experiments demonstrate how the distribution of possible outcomes varies with historically varying systematic factors. Both history and an extension to the model demonstrate the role of externality-internalizing behavior in resolving diversity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences |
||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | EXPLORATIONS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY | ||||
| Publisher: | ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE | ||||
| ISSN: | 0014-4983 | ||||
| Official Date: | July 2002 | ||||
| Dates: |
|
||||
| Volume: | 39 | ||||
| Number: | 3 | ||||
| Number of Pages: | 33 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 282-314 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.1006/exeh.2002.0786 | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
