Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK)
The paper examines the concept of path dependency in policies, and seeks to examine how different pathways emerge in policy and how these change over time. It does so with reference to a case study of regional innovation policy development in Wales (UK) over a period of more than thirty years. Build...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Revista Galega de Economía |
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.usc.gal/index.php/rge/article/view/6155 |
| _version_ | 1811165200640901120 |
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| author | Dylan Henderson |
| author_facet | Dylan Henderson |
| author_sort | Dylan Henderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The paper examines the concept of path dependency in policies, and seeks to examine how different pathways emerge in policy and how these change over time. It does so with reference to a case study of regional innovation policy development in Wales (UK) over a period of more than thirty years. Building on recent developments in regional studies and economic geography the paper considers whether path dependency is an inevitable feature of the policy process at the regional level. Drawing on documentary analysis and interviews with policy makers, it finds that policy decisions taken early on in the path creation phase (to support technological innovation) endure despite attempts to broaden out the pathway to a more inclusive form of innovation policy in Wales. While path dependency, most evident in core technological and R&D policy instruments, hasn’t prevented path experimentation, the findings suggest that rigidity and renewal co-exist in policies and the policy process for regional innovation over time. The findings contribute towards the growing focus on the temporal dynamics of policy change at the regional level and the complexity of policy as it seeks to address the challenge of innovation in less developed regions.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:33:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c7724dd728a49e795639ba21c204473 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1132-2799 2255-5951 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:33:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Universidade de Santiago de Compostela |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Galega de Economía |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c7724dd728a49e795639ba21c2044732023-02-13T11:00:24ZengUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaRevista Galega de Economía1132-27992255-59512019-09-0128210.15304/rge.28.2.6155Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK)Dylan Henderson0Cardiff University – Cardiff Business SchoolThe paper examines the concept of path dependency in policies, and seeks to examine how different pathways emerge in policy and how these change over time. It does so with reference to a case study of regional innovation policy development in Wales (UK) over a period of more than thirty years. Building on recent developments in regional studies and economic geography the paper considers whether path dependency is an inevitable feature of the policy process at the regional level. Drawing on documentary analysis and interviews with policy makers, it finds that policy decisions taken early on in the path creation phase (to support technological innovation) endure despite attempts to broaden out the pathway to a more inclusive form of innovation policy in Wales. While path dependency, most evident in core technological and R&D policy instruments, hasn’t prevented path experimentation, the findings suggest that rigidity and renewal co-exist in policies and the policy process for regional innovation over time. The findings contribute towards the growing focus on the temporal dynamics of policy change at the regional level and the complexity of policy as it seeks to address the challenge of innovation in less developed regions. https://revistas.usc.gal/index.php/rge/article/view/6155Regional innovation policyPath dependencyInstitutional changeTimeLess developed regions |
| spellingShingle | Dylan Henderson Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK) Revista Galega de Economía Regional innovation policy Path dependency Institutional change Time Less developed regions |
| title | Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK) |
| title_full | Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK) |
| title_fullStr | Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK) |
| title_short | Policy path dependency in a less developed region: The evolution of regional innovation policy in Wales (UK) |
| title_sort | policy path dependency in a less developed region the evolution of regional innovation policy in wales uk |
| topic | Regional innovation policy Path dependency Institutional change Time Less developed regions |
| url | https://revistas.usc.gal/index.php/rge/article/view/6155 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dylanhenderson policypathdependencyinalessdevelopedregiontheevolutionofregionalinnovationpolicyinwalesuk |