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The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kuran, T
Published in: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
January 1, 1988

A number of theories have been developed to explain why societies do not always adapt to changing conditions. These are critiqued here, with an emphasis on their substantive and methodological differences. Some theories ascribe lack of adaptation to personal conservatism, attachment to the past by the individual members of society. Others invoke collective conservatism, the attachment of society as a whole to collective past choices. Methodologically, the theories differ in the extent to which they resort to optimistic functionalism. A limitation common to most is that they overlook the feedback from actual choices to individuals' beliefs and preferences. © 1988.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

DOI

ISSN

0167-2681

Publication Date

January 1, 1988

Volume

10

Issue

2

Start / End Page

143 / 171

Related Subject Headings

  • Economics
  • 3801 Applied economics
  • 3502 Banking, finance and investment
  • 1403 Econometrics
  • 1402 Applied Economics
  • 1401 Economic Theory
 

Citation

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MLA
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Kuran, T. (1988). The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 10(2), 143–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-2681(88)90043-1
Kuran, T. “The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism.” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 10, no. 2 (January 1, 1988): 143–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-2681(88)90043-1.
Kuran T. The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 1988 Jan 1;10(2):143–71.
Kuran, T. “The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism.” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, vol. 10, no. 2, Jan. 1988, pp. 143–71. Scopus, doi:10.1016/0167-2681(88)90043-1.
Kuran T. The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 1988 Jan 1;10(2):143–171.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

DOI

ISSN

0167-2681

Publication Date

January 1, 1988

Volume

10

Issue

2

Start / End Page

143 / 171

Related Subject Headings

  • Economics
  • 3801 Applied economics
  • 3502 Banking, finance and investment
  • 1403 Econometrics
  • 1402 Applied Economics
  • 1401 Economic Theory