Pfadabhängigkeiten internationaler Infrastrukturnetze

In: Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte: Economic history yearbook, Band 56, Heft 1, S. 291-312

Abstract

Abstract
Since the 19th century, the development of international networks of infrastructure has been characterized by a stronger path dependency than national networks. This article discusses the reasons and concludes that various economic and technical factors as well as political and organizational causes were responsible. The interdependencies between national and international standards had the greatest influence: standards within the international framework opened up corridors for national specifications. These specifications themselves complicated the consequent change of standards at the national level. Furthermore, the mutual influence and stabilization of economic and technical as of political and organizational arrangements were important. In the light of the general qualities of networks, potential mechanisms for self-stabilization will be discussed first. In a second step, historical examples from the railways, telecommunication and broadcasting will be explored. Finally, general hypotheses about the path dependency of international infrastructure networks will be proposed