path dependence

Alternative forms

 * path dependency

Noun

 * 1)  A situation in which the outcome varies with the route taken.
 * 2)  The theory that a technological option selected by the market need not be the technologically best one, because of the traction obtained by an early-introduced, technologically inferior alternative option.

Related terms

 * lock-in

Translations

 * Swedish: stigberoende, spårbundenhet