Tracks across Continents, Paths through History: The Economic Dynamics of Standardization in Railway Gauge
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.77 (952 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0226685098 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 376 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-07-27 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Puffert also uses this history to develop new insights in the theory of path dependence. Puffert offers a global history of railway track gauge, examining early choices and the dynamic process of diversity and standardization that resulted. Drawing on the economic theory of path dependence, and grounded in economic, technical, and institutional realities, this innovative volume traces how early historical events, and even idiosyncratic personalities, have affected choices of gauge ever since, despite changing technology and understandings of what gauge is optimal. A standard track gauge—the distance between the two rails—enables connecting railway lines to exchange traffic. Tracks across Continents, Paths through History will be essential reading for anyone interested in how history and economics inform each other.. But despite the benefits of standardization, early North American railways used six different gauges extensively, and even today breaks of gauge at national borders and within such countries as India and Australia are expen
“An excellent accomplishment. Douglas Puffert has analyzed exhaustively the evolution of the various diverse railway track gauges since the emergence of ‘modern’ steam locomotives and wrought iron rails in the 1820s. No other book has attempted to compile, use, and interpret such a variety of historical information on gauges and employ this kind of economic theory and modeling to explain it.”
"Ken Krechmer's review" according to Kenneth Krechmer. Finally, a comprehensive and detailed view of the world-wide history of railway gauge standardization is available. This book is the long awaited and significant refinement of the author's Stanford University doctoral thesis, "The economics of spatial network externalities and the dynamics of railway standardization," 1991.The original thesis was the first long term (Ken Krechmer's review Finally, a comprehensive and detailed view of the world-wide history of railway gauge standardization is available. This book is the long awaited and significant refinement of the author's Stanford University doctoral thesis, "The economics of spatial network externalities and the dynamics of railway standardization," 1991.The original thesis was the first long term (300+ years) review of a world-wide path dependent system: the standardization of railroad gauges. By path dependent, the author means a process where early choices impact later. 00+ years) review of a world-wide path dependent system: the standardization of railroad gauges. By path dependent, the author means a process where early choices impact later