The role of path-dependence in the local economic transformation

Abstract

The examination focuses on the issue of path-dependence, which is considered to be the core concept of evolutionary economic geography emphasizing the importance of historical development. Although the notion of path-dependence is used both in negative and positive contexts, we place the latter in focus leaving room for changes, as we are interested in the question how the local economic base can be reinforced by the development of perspective activities. Our key question involves aspects of regional development, namely how medium-sized settlements can be positioned as hubs in the economic space dominated by large cities in the age of globalization. With regard to the opportunities for establishing localization-type agglomeration advantages, which are important for the generation of positive feedback mechanisms in the broadest sense, the healthcare industry appears to be a perspective research field in the case of our examined city, Debrecen. Not only significant traditions and remarkable weight does the sector represent in the economy of the city, but the development ideas. In our presentation we attempt to delineate the corporate and institutional actors of the local healthcare industry. On the other hand, the companies are examined in three temporal sections after the change of regime, in order to unfold the dynamic segments of the healthcare industry. Business registers and corporate databases of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office are analysed in addition to the evaluation of corporate reports, press releases and documents of economic development reinforcement of healthcare industry constitutes a columnar component of the local.

Keywords

• path-dependence
• healthcare industry
• medium-sized cities
• economic development